Behavioral Ecology Flashcards
Behavioral Ecology
study of evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures
Behavior results from both genes and environmental factors
highly complex field of study that demands the application of refined techniques (neurophysiology, endocrinology etc.)
Taxes
“Movement”
the directional movement of an organism in response to a stimulus such as light or the presence of food
Innate behavioral responses
Tropotaxis
“Turned Movement”
a taxis in which an organism orients itself by the simultaneous comparison of stimuli of different intensity acting on separate end organs
Movement of Grayling butterflies and honeybees
Phototaxis
“Light Movement”
the bodily movement of a motile organism in response to light, either toward the source of light (positive phototaxis) or away from it (negative phototaxis)
Cockroaches are afraid of light and will scatter away from it.
Telotaxis
“Goal movement”
Movement or orientation based on a specific stimulus, guided by sensory organ devoted to it (paired receptor)
Bees move towards the flower with the most intense signal
Klinotaxis
“Gradient movement”
Movement based on the signal of multiple sensory cells all over the body
A blowfly larvae moves its head while crawling
Menotaxis
“Angle movement”
The organism maintains a certain angular orientation
Elysia viridis moves at 45-135 degrees in relation to light sources
Mnemotaxis
Memory movement
is the use of memory to follow trails that organisms have left when traveling to or from their home
You guys should definitely know how to get to IEMS by now…
Kinesis
Undirected movement in regards to stimulus (looking for the comfort zone)
Aila wanted to go back to bed when she heard it was raining.
Reflex
An action that is performed as a response to a stimulus and without conscious thought
Richard tries to poke Vince and he jumps away.
Instinct
learned elements, sometimes alternate by experience in ways that are specific to each species (involves neurovision, physical responses etc).
“Hi Raiiiin-“ “hi lee.”
Altruism
“Sacrifice”
Behavior that reduces an individual’s fitness while increasing the fitness of other individuals
KC let Fhai borrow her notes, even though that sacrifices her study time
Group selection
Describes natural selection operating between groups of organisms, rather than between individuals.
Adaptations help everyone, not just one.
Mutations, immigrations, resources, and individual deaths do not support this idea.
Kin selection
Altruistic acts between individuals with genetic relationships (Families living together)
Good parents help their children flourish and grow.
alleles differ their propagation because they influence the survival of the kin who carry similar alleles
