Behaviour Flashcards
Behaviour
An action made in response to a stimulus, which modifies the relationship between the organism and the environment.
Innate behaviour
Found in all members of a species. It is not learned by the animal. It is the result of specific nerve pathways laid down as the embryo develops. (E.g. building a nest, migration)
Habituation
Happens when a stimulus is repeated time after time and nothing happens, good or bad. Eventually, the animal stops responding to that stimulus.
Importance of habituation
Young animals learn not to react to the natural features of the natural world. For example, ignore the movement and noise of the wind, or their nervous system would constantly firing off false alarms.
Imprinting
A specialised form of learning behaviour that is seen only in very young animals. At a receptive stage of its early life, the young animal identifies and attaches emotionally to another large organism.
Importance of imprinting
- enables the animal to recognise other animals of the same species
- follow the parent while it is young and relate to other animals
Classic conditioning
When animals learn to associate an existing unconditioned reflex with a new stimulus. For example, some cats learned to settle down next to a computer since they found it is a warm place.
Operant conditioning
Known as trial-and-error learning. This takes place when a piece of trial behaviour by an animal is either rewarded or punished. An animal will repeat the same behaviour several times and it will stop trying it if it results in punishment.
Importance of operating conditioning
- an important part in the way animals learn in everyday life
- widely used by people who want to train animals to carry out a particular behaviour
A lot of animal behaviour is based…
on communication between both members of the same species and members of different species.
Sound signals humans
Humans shape sounds into speech to communicate everything from simple needs to sophisticated ideas. It can also be used to communicate with other species of animals such as dog or cat, even if they do not understand us.
Sound signals chimpanzees
Use a wide range of sounds to communicate complex emotions, from friendship to rage.
Sound signals wolf
Howling maintains contact between the pack members and defends their territory.
Sound signals birds
Sing to mark their territories, find mates and warn off rivals.
Sound signal uses
- for communication between same species and other species
- to mark territories
- find possible mates
- warn off rivals
Visual signal uses
- selecting mate
- reproduction
- raising offspring
Visual signal mammals
Large eyes of many young mammals that trigger a protective response in adults.
Visual signal insect
Black and yellow colours warn that they sting.
Chemical signals
Include both scents that we are aware of and chemicals known as pheromones that we cannot smell but it affects the way we behave.
Pheromones
Chemicals that cannot be consciously smelled but it affects the way we behave.
Chemical signal uses
- attract mates(pheromones are used)
- a defence for many animals-stink to discourage predators
Chemical signals social insect (bees and ants)
Used to communicate everything from where to find food to giving warning of attack.
Mating strategies
- finding a mate for life (e.g. swans) -very rare
- several different mates over a lifetime (lions)
- having one mate for a single season (garden birds)
- having several mates over a single breeding season (kittens)
Sexual reproduction requires…
The finding and selection of a suitable mate can involve courtship behaviours.
Courtship behaviours
Used to advertise an individual’s quality.
Parental care
Can be a successful evolutionary strategy, including
- increased chance of survival of offspring
- increased chance of parental genes being passed on by the offspring
Disadvantages of parental care (to parents)
- uses up time and resources
- makes them vulnerable to starvation and predators
- can result in death
Examples of parental behaviour
- Mouth brooding
- Egg-laying and incubation
Mouth brooding
Some fishes and frogs keep their eggs and their young in their mouth until the egg hatch or the young are big enough to look after themselves.
Egg-lying and incubation
Birds incubate their eggs, keeping them warm as the young develop inside and then caring for the offspring after hatching.
Some animals have developed a special…
behaviours for rearing their young.
