animal behavior ch 36

Question 1

36.1What three scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1973?

Answer 1

Konrad Lorenz: 1903 – 1989,Geese
Karl von Frisch: 1886 – 1982, Honeybees
Niko Tinbergen: 1907 – 1988, Birds

Question 2

Ethology

Answer 2

the study of animal behavior and viewing behavior as adaptive traits

Question 3

36.3 How does is proximate causation different from ultimate causation in animal behavior?

Answer 3

Proximate causation (e.g., hormones)- “how”
Ultimate causation (e.g., purpose)- “why?”

Question 4

36.4 What is a stereotypical behavior?

Answer 4

a repetitive, invariant behaviour pattern with no obvious goal or function.

Question 5

36.5 What is the difference between a releaser and a sign stimulus

Answer 5

• Releaser = stimulus that triggers behavior (egg outside nest)
• Sign Stimulus = effective stimulus; some aspect of the releaser
  that triggers the behavior (e.g., shape, color); geese retrieve any
  object that can fit under its neck

Question 6

36.6 What is a behavioral syndrome?

Answer 6

individual variation in behavior
– E.g., fruit fly larvae can be ‘rovers’ or ‘sitters’; rovers dominant
Example: Hygienic behavior in honeybees
Two traits: uncap cells; remove diseased larvae
Homozygous recessive: do both; Heterozygotes cannot

Question 7

Innate behavior

Answer 7

-inherited-stereotypical behaviors are innate
-behavior that’s genetically hardwired in an organism and can be performed in response to a cue without prior experience

Question 8

Habituation

Answer 8

Repeatedly touch siphon:-
eventually ignore stimulus

Question 9

Sensitization

Answer 9

Add a different stimulus:-
reverse habituation; reflex return

Question 10

learned behavior

Answer 10

Modification of behavior through experience
– E.g., gill-withdrawl reflex in Aplysia
– When prodded Aplysia pulls in gills and siphon

Question 11

Imprinting

Answer 11

impose stable behavior during critical learning period
– e.g., geese; songbirds

Question 12

36.8 Distinguish between socially coordinated behavior and cooperative behavior

Answer 12

Socially coordinated behavior among members of a species
– Adjust actions to directly increase own reproductive success
– Competitive behaviors, territoriality, mating systems
Cooperative Behaviors
– Actions that benefit others ultimately benefits individual
– Relationship to members of group usually important

Question 13

36.9 What is agonistic behavior? Describe some examples

Answer 13

• Agonistic behavior; related to aggression
  – Fighting; ritualized threat displays

Question 14

Polygamy

Answer 14

– more than one mate

Question 15

Polygyny and what are the three types?

Answer 15

1 male + 2 or more females
* Resource-Defense = males control resources (territory, food)
* Female Defense = females aggregate (harem); males fight
* Male Dominance = males aggregate & compete (lek); see video

Question 16

Polyandry

Answer 16

1 female + 2 or more males
* Not as common; reproductive capacity of females usually less than males

Question 17

What is altruistic behavior

Answer 17

behavior that benefits another individual at a cost to oneself.

Question 18

kin selection

Answer 18

occurs when an animal engages in self-sacrificial behaviour that benefits the genetic fitness of its relatives