Behaviour and communication Flashcards
What is another term for an animal’s body clock?
Circadian Rythm.
What is the definition of stereotypic behaviour?
Repetitive, abnormal, caused by stress, serves no purpose or benefit.
Give five examples of stereotypic behaviour.
Pacing, self-mutilation, head bobbing, bar biting, circling, rocking, eating faeces
Give five examples of natural behaviours that may not be able to be displayed in captivity.
Burrowing, hunting, breeding/mate selection, migration, swimming, running, hiding, social structure, fighting/territorial behaviour, parental care, hibernation.
What is behavioural scarring?
Stereotypical behaviour remains despite removal of stimulus.
What is enrichment?
Something that meets physical and psychological needs and allows animals to perform natural behaviours.
What is habituation?
Where an animal gradually stops responding to a repeated stimulus.
What is a selection pressure? Provide an example.
Any factor that influences the survival and evolution of a species that includes resources, disease, predators, natural disasters and weather conditions.
Give 3 reasons why we domesticate animals.
Companionship, work, clothing, meat, other food products (milk, eggs), transport.
Give 3 undesirable traits when domesticating an animal.
Aggression, low production yield, genetic diseases, timidity, short lifespan, low production of offspring.
Give 3 factors that may affect an animals circadian rhthym.
Other animals, hormones, temp/season/time of day, diet.
Give 3 examples of how the presence of other animals can influence behaviour.
Mating, hunting, competition, territorial behaviour, breeding suppression, aggression, social behaviour.
What are Timbergen’s 4 why questions?
Function, evolution, causation, development.
Which theorist studied a cat in a puzzle box?
Edward Thorndike.
What is altruism?
Where an animal does something to benefit another with no benefit to itself.
What is symbiosis?
Mutual assistance between unrelated members of the same or different species
What is symbiosis an example of?
Reciprocal altruism
What is affiliative behaviour?
Behaviour which relates to the forming of social and emotional bonds of which benefit all animals involved
What is agonistic behaviour?
Any social behaviour related to fighting
What’s the difference between intra and interspecific communication?
Interspecific is communication between different species, intraspecific is communication between members of the same species
What are the four main types of communication?
Visual, auditory, tactile, chemical
What is meant by ‘releaser’ and who devised the term?
Devised by Konrad Lorenz, a releaser is a signal sent from one animal to another, which prompts a specific response from another
What species did Konrad Lorenz study in his studies of imprinting?
Geese
Which theorist studied Chimpanzees and the idea of ‘trial and error’?
Wolfgang Koehler
What are the 3 methods of sampling?
Focal (focus on individual), Behaviour (focus of specific behaviour), Scan (focus on a group)
What is another term for the scientific study of animal behaviour?
Ethology
What are the five mating strategies?
Monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, polygyny, promiscuity.
What is meant by monogamy?
Animals which mate with only one individual. Parental care is shared
What is meant by polygamy?
Animals which mate with numerous individuals and do not mate for life. Shared parental care in large groups
What is meant by polyandry?
One female that mates with many males
What is meant by polygyny?
One male that mates with numerous females who will only mate with that one male. Shared parental care amongst females
What is meant by promiscuity?
Both males and females mate with many mates, no permanent bond is made. Male and female can take on parental care
What’s the difference between K and R strategists?
K strategists have less offspring, longer gestation, slower growth rate, higher level of parental care, and a greater chance of surviving into adulthood than R strategists.
Define sexual dimorphism.
The differences in appearance between male and female individuals of the same species such as in colour, shape, size, or structure.
Provide one benefit of animals living in a hierarchical group.
Animals can avoid having to fight regularly, as they recognise those that are likely to win. Living in a social group with a strong, dominant presence can offer some protection for subordinates.
Provide one cost of animals living in a hierarchical group.
Subordinates may eat less and mating can sometimes be supressed. Dominant animals may find themselves being challenged and changes in group structure could lead them to being displaced or killed.
What is a badge of status?
Different body postures are adopted, depending on status. In may bird species, dominance is associated with feather colour
What is the dilution effect?
Large groups of animals reduce the chance of any one animal being attacked
What is the selfish herd effect?
When in a group, each individual will try to make their way into the middle as they are less likely to be eaten (bait ball frenzy)
Provide an example of a species that communicates visually.
Fireflies, peacocks, cobras
Provide an example of a species that communicates using sound (auditory).
Whales, wolves, elephants
Provide an example of a species that communicates using touch (tactile).
Dogs, baboons, horses
Provide an example of a species that communicates chemically.
Cats, ants, skunks
What is a fixed action pattern?
A predictable series of actions that is triggered by a specific stimulus. They are involuntary and automatic. Once triggered, the animals will continue the behaviour until it is complete, even if the stimulus is removed.
Provide an example of a fixed action pattern.
Greylag geese when an egg falls from their nest, the mother will use her bill to push the egg back into the nest in a series of predictable movements.
