Behaviour Flashcards
Displacement activity and examples
A behaviour that has no relevant use in the current situation. Common in situations where activities are limited or unsure on what to do.
Examples: preening, scratching, yawning, grooming, sniffing
Stereotypes and examples
Fixed sequences of behaviour, this are usually repeated over and over again thag has no obvious function. It can aid with stress coping. This is usually not stress caused in given moment but behavioural scars. Examples are overgrooming, pacing, rocking, weaving, licking.
Inappropriate social grouping
Solitary species kept with others
Social species being kept alone
Too many (fe)males or too many young
Different species being housed together
Personality clashing
Tinbergen 4 questions
Function - peacock males flatter their feathers to attract females with all of their colours
Causation - the behaviour is controlled by the peacock females as it starts when they go into season
Development - the behaviour is innate as it’s a normal thing to see peacocks do all over the world
Evolution - it’s evolved as peahens pick out the bird with the best colours and breed so they can make a child with even better more vibrant colours
Learned vs innate
Learned behaviours are from observing other animals inside of their group, also can be done by teaching or trial and error until it’s perfected. Examples would be bearded capuchins evolved to crack coconuts with rocks to open for food
Innate behaviours are instincts that animals are born with as they naturally know it. Examples would be a monkey knows how to climb
Agonistic behaviours
- Behaviour associated between 2 or more animals
- indicated whether they will fight or retreat
- Prevents fights as it shows who will win the fight
- occurs when limited resources are in the area
Examples are:
Threat - adjusting size, noise, body language
Avoidance - pushing away, avoiding eye contact, running away, submission
Aggression - chasing, pushing, scratching, biting, fighting
Affiliative behaviours
A behaviour that aids in the bonding socially and emotionally.
Examples: allo grooming, allo parenting, play, boundary patrols
Benefits:
- increases chance of cooperation
- reduces agonistic behaviours
- mutually beneficial
- share resources
- protect genes (increase fitness)
- develops parenting skills
- safety from predators
Hierarchy and 2 types
Linear Hierarchy is a system of ranking in groups and it is deciphered by who dominates who. This is seen in chickens mainly and is established through numerous of social interactions.
Complex hierarchy is a system where animals rank eachother through social bonds. This is also ranked through how animals interact (relationships and bonds). This is seen in grey wolves
Types of social structure (groups)
Solitary, monogamous, eusocial, social group
Intra-specific vs inter specific communication
Intra-specific is when animals in the same species communicate when interspecific is different animals communicating. Intra examples are 2 penguins interacting and inter examples are an antelope and a lion interacting.
Altruism and examples
Altruism is when an animal does an act that benefits others but does not benefit themselves at all. An example of this is allo grooming in monkeys as it cleans the other monkey but the one who is doing this does not gain anything
Hamiltons rule: an animal will more likely do the behaviour if it’s related to the animal it’s aiding
Trivers theory: reciprocal altruism is when an animal will do a behaviour and expect them to return the favour in time.
Atypical behaviours
Atypical behaviours occur due to an animal not being able to complete its natural
