Animal Behaviour Flashcards
Territorial behaviour:
Carried out in defence of a specific area which is used for the provision of food or breeding purposes
Functions of behaviour:
Behaviour patterns are usually adaptive. They help the animal survive and/ or reproduce
Examples of territorial behaviours….
- Honeyeaters chasing off other honeyeaters from areas with nectar producing plants
- magpies defending an area used for breeding from other magpies
Aggressive behaviour:
Involves a physical act or threat by one individual against another
Examples of aggressive behaviours…..
- dominant male baboon chasing off other male that got to close to female
- kookaburras attacking a goanna that is approaching the nesting hollow of a kookaburra
Submissive behaviour:
Designed to stop or reduce the intensity of the aggressive behaviour or another individual
Example of submissive behaviours….
- young male dog rolling on its back in the presence of an older dog
- male gorilla turning its face away from the stare of a silverback
- red foxes greet more dominant fox by carrying their heads lower
Reproductive behaviours
Carried out in the production and rearing of offspring
Examples of reproductive behaviours….
- courtship behaviour, display of colours and song shown by male lyre birds to attract females
- nest building, preparation for a nest hollow for breeding by budgerigars
- parental care, such as feeding and protection given to a new born whale calf by its mother
Appetitive behaviour:
Leads in directly to the satisfaction of a motivation
Example of appetitive behaviour….
Approach food in order to satisfy your hunger
Social behaviours:
Those carried out by individuals of the same species
Solitary behaviours:
Behaviours carried out by a single individual
Advantages of living in social group
- greater degree of protection from predators
- increased care of offspring
- greater ability to find food sources
- increased ability to defend territories
- better access to potential mates
Disadvantages of living in social groups
- increased competition for mates, food am nesting sites
- increased risk of infection
- greater risk of injury from other members in the group
Some Social species
- elephant herd
- eastern grey kangaroos
- swarm of honey bees
- lions
Some solitary species
- koalas
- tigers
- ruby tailed wasp
Methods of communication
- Visual communication
- Vocal communication
- Chemical communication
- Tactile communication
Visual communication
Based on sight
- butterfly wings looks like owl eyes
- gorilla stare
Vocal communication
Based on sound
- gorilla chest beating
- wolf pack calling
Chemical communication
Based on taste and smell
- dogs marking territory with urine
- koalas rub the tree, repel males and attract females
- female vapourer moths use pheromones to attract male because she can not fly
What is pheromones?
chemicals that affect the behaviour of other individuals of the same species
Tactile communication
Based on touch
-lemurs touching one another
Example of instinctive behaviour
Spiders building web
Birds build nest
