Behavior Flashcards
What were Tinbergen’s four questions?
- What stimulus causes a behavior, and how does an animal’s physiology allow for a response?
- How do experiences influence behavioral responses?
- How does the behavior affect fitness?
- What is the behavior’s evolutionary history?
Define
Proximate causation
“How” the behavior happens
Define
Ultimate causation
“Why” the behavior happens (think: evolution!)
List characteristics of a
Fixed action pattern
- Unlearned / innate to the animal
- Unchangeable
- Once started, is carried to completion
What leads to a fixed action pattern?
A sign stimulus
Define
Migration
Regular, long distance changes in location
What are two common ways animals “know” directionality for migration?
By comparing their position relative to either
* the sun, or
* Earth’s magnetic fields
What are three common behavioral rhythms?
Circadian
Circannual
Lunar
What helps establish circadian rhythm?
Light and dark cycles
What helps establish circannual rhythms?
Day length
What activities are commonly mediated by circadian rhythm?
Rest and daily activity
What activities are commonly mediated by circannual rhythm?
migration and reproduction
What are four modes of communication?
Visual
Chemical
Tactile
Auditory
What determines the type of communication in a species?
Its lifestyle and environment
Example: visual cues are rare in nocturnal animals
Define
Communication
Transmission and reception of singles between members of the same or different species
Define
Pheromone
Chemicals released into the environment that functions as a communication between members of a species
What are three characteristics of
Innate behavior
Unlearned
Developmentally fixed
Uniform among members of a species
What are two ways to determine if a behavior is innate or learned?
Twin studies
Cross fostering studies
What are three characteristics of
Innate behavior
Based on experience
Vary among members of a species
Require anatomical / physiological features to allow for learning
Define
Imprinting
Establishing long-lasting behvioral response to specific individual or object
Is imprinting learned or innate?
Innate, in that it happens
Learned, insofar is to whom imprinting happens upon
When can imprinting occur?
Only during a sensitive period (often very early in an animal’s life)
Define
associative learning
Association (connection) between two environmental features and/or outcomes
Define
social learning
learning through observation of others
Define
culture
social learning that is ubiquitous among members of a population
Define
foraging
behaviors associated with obtaining food
Define
Promiscuity
mating system in which each individual can have multiple mates
Define
Monogamy
mating system in which each individual has one mate, often pair bonded for long periods of time or life
Define
Polygamy
mating system in which each individual of one sex has multiple mates
What are the two types of polygamy?
Polygyny (one male, multiple females) and
Polyandry (one female, multiple males)
