animal behavior 1 Flashcards
“how” behaviors occur; focuses on hormonal and neural control
proximate causation
what are the two subdivisions of proximate causation
-mechanism (causation): what stimulus elicits the behavior
-ontogeny (development): does the behavior change throughout an animals life
ultimate causation
“why” behaviors occur; focuses on evolutionary reasons for a behavior
what are the two subdivisions of ultimate causation?
-function (adaptation): how does the behavior help the animal survive and reproduce
-phylogeny (evolution): how did past generations contribute to the development of this behavior
stereotypical behavior
innate behaviors can occur in predictable sequences
stereotypical behaviors show low ___
variation
animal responds to one specific aspect of the stimulus
sign stimulus
sign stimulus includes highly …..
predictable responses
genetics in animal behavior
hereditary transmission of most innate behaviors is complex with many interacting genes.
some behavioral differences within species show simple ____ transmission
mendelian
intermediate behavior
inherited hybrid; intermediate b/w parents behaviors
modification of behavior through experience
learning
what are some types of learning processes?
-habituation
-imprinting
-bird song
habituation describes getting ___ to a stimulus
used
imposition of a stable behavior in a young animal by exposure to a particular stimulus during a critical period in development
imprinting
