animal behavior Flashcards
What is a fixed action pattern? with example
A behavioral sequence in species that is triggered by a stimulus and is an innate behavior.
Example: Egg-Rolling in Greylag Geese.
Define migration.
The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another, often over long distances due to a change in temperature and environment.
Example: Monarch Butterfly.
What are behavioral rhythms?
Patterns of behavior that occur at regular intervals in response to environmental cues.
They help organisms adapt to changes in surroundings, such as light, temperature, and food availability.
What are animal signals?
Behaviors, sounds, or physical traits used to communicate information to other animals.
Example: Ants leave pheromone trails to guide others to food sources.
What is innate behavior?
A genetically programmed behavior that an animal is born with.
Define imprinting.
A form of innate learning where an animal forms a strong bond with a specific individual or environment during a critical early period of life.
What is spatial learning?
The ability to acquire, store, and use information about the environment to navigate and locate resources.
Define cognitive learning. what’s an example
When an animal learns by thinking, solving problems, and using past experiences instead of just acting on instinct. examples chimpanzees using tools
Example: Chimpanzee.
What is associative learning?
When an animal links one thing with another, like connecting an action to a reward.
Example: Dog.
Define classical conditioning.
A type of learning where an animal connects two things, like a sound and food, so it reacts automatically.
Example: Honey bees learn to associate a certain smell with a food reward.
What is operant conditioning? what’s an example
When an animal learns by linking its actions to rewards or punishments. an example is training a dog with treats to use the bathroom
Example: Rat.
Define social learning.
When an animal learns by watching and copying others instead of figuring things out alone.
Example: Meerkats.
What is optimal foraging? an example
When an animal finds the most food while using the least energy and taking the fewest risks. examples wolves hunting in a pack yto capture animals
Example: Wolf hunts in packs to take down large prey efficiently.
What is sexual selection? examples?
When animals choose mates based on traits that show strength, beauty, or health. example peacock
Define mate choice.
When one individual picks a mate they think is the best for having healthy offspring.
Example: Peacock.
What does lack of parental care mean?
Parents don’t provide much or any support to the young.
Example: Elephants stay with their calves for years.
Define prey selection strategy.
When a predator chooses which animals to hunt based on factors like size or nutritional value.
Example: Lions prefer to hunt weaker or slower prey.
What is altruism?
When an animal helps others at a cost to itself even if it doesn’t directly benefit. examples meerkats standing guard
Example: Meerkats act as lookouts for predators.
Define reciprocal altruism.
When an animal helps another with the expectation that the favor will be returned in the future.
Example: Vampire bats share blood meals.
What is kin selection?
type of selction where animals help there close relatives survive and reproduce even at the cost of themselves
Example: Worker bees.
in Wich population will kin selction be more important one with a lot of relatives or with not a lot. why?
larger percent, because it will create more genetic success for the species if many animals with the same genetics are helping eachother survive
