Behaviour Flashcards
What is an innate behaviours?
An innate behaviour is a behvaiour that comes from an animals heredity. This means its is inheritable, passing from generation to generation through genes.
What are intrinsic behaviours?
Intrinsic behaviours are shown by animals that have been raised in isolation and have been shown to carry out the behaviours (that we have seen in the wild)
What are learned behvaiours?
Learned behaviours come from watching other animals and from life experience. A learned behaviour is something you are taught or have learned to do.
What is trial and error learning?
Trail and error learning is when an animal comes to associate particular behaviours with the consequences they produce. This will tend to reinforce the behvaiour(so the behaviour is likely to be repeated if the consequences are positive)
What is observational learning?
Observational learning is learning that does not require direct interaction. The animals will acquire the new knowledge from watching others behvaiour.
What is a named example of observational learning?
Blue Jays: can learn to tell edible from inedible caterpillars by watching the reaction of other blue jays when they attempt to eat a caterpillar.
What is parental/social learning?
When animals teach the young how to do specific tasks. E.g. adult meerkats have been observed bringing their youngest pups dead scorpions with no stinger to eat. This mean the pup then gets used to eating scorpion.
What is a species?
Animals capable of breeding to produce fertile offspring
What is the definition of evolution?
The process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
What is the principle of variation?
-A population consists of individuals that are slightly different to each other.
-Variations that are advantageous top survival are passed onto the next generation.
-These traits become more common as population evolves and allows them to adapt to their environment.
What is the principle of heredity?
-Defined as the passing on of traits from parents to offspring
-Animals within a species display a range of different heritable characteristics.
What is the principle of selection?
-Some forms are more successful at surviving and reproducing than other forms in a given environment.
What is a social behaviour?
The suite of interactions that occur between two or more individual animals, usually of the same species
What are the different types of social structure?
Solitary, Social, Monogamous pairs, Eusocial
What are solitary animals?
Animals that live alone and do not develop adaptive social strategies
What are some named examples of solitary animals?
Tigers, Platypus, Polar bears, Snow leopards, Moose
What are monogamous pairs?
Monogamous pairs are a pair bond between two adult animals of the same species. The pair may live in the same area or territory for some duration of time and in some cases may reproduce. Monogamy may either be short lasting one to a few seasons or long term lasting many seasons- life long.
What are some named examples of monogamous animals?
Swans, Wolves, Beavers, Bald eagles
What are eusocial groups?
All shar ethe following 4 characteristics:
-Adults live in groups
-Cooperative care of juveniles(animals will care for offspring that is not their own)
-Reproductive division of labor(not all individuals get to reproduce)
-Overlap of generations
What are some named examples of eusocial animals?
Snapping shrimp, Ants, Bees, African mole rat
What are social groups?
Highly social animals for tight colonies/ packs.
What are some named examples of social animals?
Wolves, Elephants, Chimps
What are affiliative behaviours?
Behaviours connected with forming strong social and emotion bonds with others.
Allogrooming, Alooparenting, Play, Boundary Patrols
What are some benifits of affiliative behaviours?
-Reduces likelihood of agonistic behaviours
-Share resources
-Saftey from predators
-Makes future cooperation more likely
What are agonistic behaviours?
Behaviour pattens used during conflict with a member of the same species.
Growling, Teeth baring, Hackles raised, Eye contact, Retreating/running away
What is a hierarchy?
A system of rank and organisation within a social group, where a male will be the alpha. Reduces the frequency of fighting
What are the 4 types of animal communication?
Tactile, Auditory, Visual, Olfactory
Why do animals communicate?
Helps them to: attract mates, warn off predators, mark territory and identify themselves
What are the 3 types of atypical behaviour?
Displacement, Redirected, Stereotypical
What is a displacement behaviour?
A behaviour that occurs which seems to be irrelevant to the current situation they’re in
What is an example of a displacement behaviour?
Preening, Scratching, Yawning, Grooming
What is a redirected behaviour?
A behaviour that happens when an animal redirects its aggression to another animal or inanimate object
What are stereotypical behaviours?
Stereotypical behaviours are fixed sequences of behaviour that are preformed repeatedly with no function/outcome
What causes atypical behaviours?
Confinement, Unsuitable environment, Inappropriate social grouping, Not having 5 needs met!
What does monogamy mean?
1 male : 1 female
What does polygyny mean?
1 male : multi-female
What does polyandry mean?
1 female : multi-male
What does promiscuity mean?
multi-male : multi-female
What is courtship?
When an animal selects partners they perceive will give their offspring the best chance of survival
What is the difference between natural selection and sexual selection?
Natural selection: Characteristics favourable for survival
Sexual selection: Characteristics that increase mating success
What is domestication?
The process by which animals adapt to humans (and the environment provided by humans) via a combination of genetic changes, occurring over generations and developmental mechanisms
What are some reasons for domestication?
Animal products - food
Companionship - pets
Scientific study - research
Recreation - showing/racing
What are fixed action patterns?
Innate behaviours that are initiated by a specific stimulus
What is a state?
A relatively long activity e.g. sleeping
What is an event?
A relatively short activity e.g. vocalisation
What factors may influence feeding behaviours?
Social factors: solitary or group- less competition w solitary
Group: success depends on the whole group
Environmental factors: needs to be adaptable
Physiological: how often do they feed
Palatability: learn what is suitable to eat
What are some different ways animals hunt?
Sit and wait, Stalk, Pounce, Chase, Sting, Ambush, Web to trap, Venom
What is an animal that uses ‘solo hunting’?
Cheetahs
What is an animal that uses ‘group hunting’?
Lions
What is animal culture?
The ability of non-human animals to learn and transmit behaviours through processes of cultural learning - the adoption of particular behaviours across groups
What is altruism?
Animals behaviours are altruistic when they benefit other individuals, even to the potential detriment of themselves.
