Animal behaviour Flashcards
terminology
What is stereotypical behaviour?
A behaviour that is usually repetitive and serves no purpose
Can you give three examples of stereotypical behaviour?
Head bobbing, swaying, repetitive pacing, over-grooming, bar-biting, rocking
What does mimicry mean in animals?
When an animal displays physical/behavioural traits that copy a different species or their surroundings. Usually a survival advantage due to it.
What does polymorphism mean?
When members of the same species can be physically different from eachother
What does monogamy mean?
When two animals will exclusively mate with each other
What does polygyny mean?
When a male animal has more then one mate
What does polyandry mean?
When a female animal has more then one mate
What does polygynandry mean?
A mating system where male and female will have multiple mating partners
What is a Lek?
A display ground where the male of a species display a behaviour to attract the females
What are the main reasons that male use leks?
. lack of resources
.females are widely spread
What are different strategies used by different animals?
Ambush, Group, Chase
What is a cache?
A storage of food that is hidden from sight
What four stages is there of a predators acquisition of a food source?
Detection, Attack, Capture, Consumption
Give three ways animals avoid predators?
.Birds migrating to smaller islands
.Arboreal to avoid ground dwelling predators
.Nocturnal/crepuscular to avoid predators seeing them
What is stotting?
When an animal will lift all four feet off the ground simultaneously, typically as a way to avoid being eaten to show they are healthy/young
What is Kin selection?
When animals who are related are more likely to help each other out
What is Altruism behavior?
When the animal will do this behavior when it benefits another at its own expense
What is Anthropomorphism?
When human characteristics are given to animals emotions/behaviours
What is ethology?
The study of animal behaviour
What is Habituation?
When animals are exposed to the same stimuli repeatedly until they stop responding to it
What is affiliative behaviour?
A type of social behaviour that’s related to friendly/peaceful acts between animals
What is agnostic behaviour?
A type of social behaviour that’s related to aggression
What is Bi-parental care?
when both parents of a species will raise their young together
What is operant conditioning (trail and error)?
a learning method that uses reinforcements and punishments to change voluntary behaviour
What is classical conditioning?
A learning process where an association of a neutral stimulus and a unconditional stimulus happens to an automatic response to the neutral stimulus
