Animal Behaviors for Reproduction

Question 1

What is the Great Migration?

Answer 1

In this year-round cycle across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, over 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, 300,000 Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle and 12,000 eland throng the landscape, following the rain, in search of fresh pastures

Question 2

Behaviors meaning

Answer 2

The way an organism reacts to changes in its internal conditions or external environment
Like body structures, behaviors are adaptations that have evolved over long periods of time.
Behaviors are traits that may be inherited (genes) or acquired (learned).

Question 3

Herding Behavior

Answer 3

Some animals have evolved to live in herds, which is a behavioral adaptation and instinct.

A herd is a large group of animals of the same species that live, feed, and migrate together.
Herding is common in large, hoofed mammals that are herbivores (plant eaters).
The herd size offers safety in numbers, an “alarm system” as members of the herd alert others to the presence of predators, and protection for the very young or old. The young are protected in the center of the herd.

Question 4

Wild Horse

Answer 4

Wild horses live in herds. Most wild horses are actually wild “feral” horses descended from domesticated European horses that were lost, escaped, or survived shipwrecks. Wild herds are found on most continents.

Question 5

Przewalski’s horse in Gobi desert:

Answer 5

The only true wild horse left.

Question 6

Instinct

Answer 6

An inborn response (does not need to be taught), animal performs it correctly the first time

Question 7

Human Examples of Instinct

Answer 7

Babies cry to alert parents of needs
Babies root or turn their head if you touch their cheek (looking to nurse, seek nourishment)
Smiling in response to a smile (seen in babies first)
Fear of snakes or spiders (seen in babies first)
Curiosity (seen in babies first)
Emotions may be considered an “instinct” in humans and animals

Question 8

instinct

Why don’t we cry anymore even though we did as babies?

Answer 8

Instincts can be unlearned or disappear with development.

Question 9

Mating Systems

Answer 9

Behavior patterns related to mating
Number of mating partners: only one partner or any combination (see image)
Timeline: mating for life, one season, or neither
Varies from species to species
Monogamous/Monogamy

Question 10

do most birds practice monogamy?

Answer 10

90% of bird species are monogamous. Some practice social monogamy, but not genetic monogamy.

Question 11

monogamous animals?

Answer 11

Only 3-9% of mammals are monogamous.

Question 12

monogamous fish, reptiles, amphibians?

Answer 12

Nearly all amphibians, reptiles, and fish are NOT monogamous. There are a lot of fish in the sea!

Question 13

Visual Communication to find a mate

Answer 13

display or coloration

Question 14

Auditory Communication to find a mate

Answer 14

sound, noises, vocalization, song

Question 15

pheronomes

Answer 15

chemicals released by one animal that affect the behavior of another

Question 16

Chemical Communication to find a mate

Answer 16

pheronomes

Question 17

tactile communication

Answer 17

(touch)

Question 18

Body language communication to find a mate

Answer 18

(posture, expression, dance)

Question 19

can courtship behavior include more than one form of communication?

Answer 19

Courtship behavior may include more than one form of communication. The goal is to attract a mate and reproduce.

Question 20

visual display example

Answer 20

Peafowl

Question 21

song communication example

Answer 21

Humpback Whales, Woodthrush, Spring Peepers (tree frogs), Insects (Cicadas)

Question 22

chemical communication example

Answer 22

bees, wasps, ants, moths, many mammals, fish

Question 23

dance communication examples

Answer 23

Male Ostrich, Bird-of-Paradise

Question 24

multiple forms of communication example

Answer 24

Bower Bird

Question 25

Competition

Answer 25

fight to defend territory or find a mate,

Question 26

External Fertilization

Answer 26

Fertilization of eggs occurs outside the female animal’s body.
Hundreds or thousands of eggs released outside body.
Eggs only develop outside the female’s body.
Goal: Fertilize some eggs (others will not be fertilized)

Question 27

Interal Fertilization

Answer 27

Fertilization of eggs occurs inside the female animal’s body.
Less than 10 eggs released to ovary.
Eggs may develop inside or outside of female’s body.
Goal: Fertilize all eggs

Question 28

Higher Parental Investment

Answer 28

The fewer the number of offspring, the higher the amount of parental care, time, energy, and investment. May need to teach young skills for survival.
Goal: Survival of all young

Question 29

Lower Parental Investment

Answer 29

The higher the number of offspring, the lower the amount of parental care, time, energy, and investment.

Goal: Survival of some young (most will not survive)

Question 30

How does this herding behavior benefit its young?

Answer 30

The adults can protect the young.

Question 31

Find an example of an “instinct” behavior and describe it.

Answer 31

Sea turtles hatching, and then traveling to the ocean by instinct; they are born knowing this, not learned through experience

Question 32

All Behaviors for Reproduction

Answer 32

Herding
Instincts
Monogamous Mating System
Other Mating Systems
Fertilization Strategy
Competition
Visual Display
Sound and Song Courtship
Chemical Communication
Dance Courtship
Building Structures for Courtship
Parental Investment (High, Low, or No Care)