Behavior

Question 1

What were Tinbergen’s four questions?

Answer 1

1. What stimulus causes a behavior, and how does an animal’s physiology allow for a response?
2. How do experiences influence behavioral responses?
3. How does the behavior affect fitness?
4. What is the behavior’s evolutionary history?

Question 2

Define

Proximate causation

Answer 2

“How” the behavior happens

Question 3

Define

Ultimate causation

Answer 3

“Why” the behavior happens (think: evolution!)

Question 4

List characteristics of a

Fixed action pattern

Answer 4

• Unlearned / innate to the animal
• Unchangeable
• Once started, is carried to completion

Question 5

What leads to a fixed action pattern?

Answer 5

A sign stimulus

Question 6

Define

Migration

Answer 6

Regular, long distance changes in location

Question 7

What are two common ways animals “know” directionality for migration?

Answer 7

By comparing their position relative to either
* the sun, or
* Earth’s magnetic fields

Question 8

What are three common behavioral rhythms?

Answer 8

Circadian
Circannual
Lunar

Question 9

What helps establish circadian rhythm?

Answer 9

Light and dark cycles

Question 10

What helps establish circannual rhythms?

Answer 10

Day length

Question 11

What activities are commonly mediated by circadian rhythm?

Answer 11

Rest and daily activity

Question 12

What activities are commonly mediated by circannual rhythm?

Answer 12

migration and reproduction

Question 13

What are four modes of communication?

Answer 13

Visual
Chemical
Tactile
Auditory

Question 14

What determines the type of communication in a species?

Answer 14

Its lifestyle and environment
Example: visual cues are rare in nocturnal animals

Question 15

Define

Communication

Answer 15

Transmission and reception of singles between members of the same or different species

Question 16

Define

Pheromone

Answer 16

Chemicals released into the environment that functions as a communication between members of a species

Question 17

What are three characteristics of
Innate behavior

Answer 17

Unlearned
Developmentally fixed
Uniform among members of a species

Question 18

What are two ways to determine if a behavior is innate or learned?

Answer 18

Twin studies
Cross fostering studies

Question 19

What are three characteristics of
Innate behavior

Answer 19

Based on experience
Vary among members of a species
Require anatomical / physiological features to allow for learning

Question 20

Define

Imprinting

Answer 20

Establishing long-lasting behvioral response to specific individual or object

Question 21

Is imprinting learned or innate?

Answer 21

Innate, in that it happens
Learned, insofar is to whom imprinting happens upon

Question 22

When can imprinting occur?

Answer 22

Only during a sensitive period (often very early in an animal’s life)

Question 23

Define

associative learning

Answer 23

Association (connection) between two environmental features and/or outcomes

Question 24

Define

social learning

Answer 24

learning through observation of others

Question 25

Define

culture

Answer 25

social learning that is ubiquitous among members of a population

Question 26

Define

foraging

Answer 26

behaviors associated with obtaining food

Question 27

Define

Promiscuity

Answer 27

mating system in which each individual can have multiple mates

Question 28

Define

Monogamy

Answer 28

mating system in which each individual has one mate, often pair bonded for long periods of time or life

Question 29

Define

Polygamy

Answer 29

mating system in which each individual of one sex has multiple mates

Question 30

What are the two types of polygamy?

Answer 30

Polygyny (one male, multiple females) and
Polyandry (one female, multiple males)