Ch 35 Flashcards
Define Behavior
Action by muscles/glands under control of the nervous system in response to an environmental cue.
Define Behavior Ecology
study of behavior in an evolutionary context
2 main questions by Behavior Ecologists
Proximate & Ultimate Questions /
What abt Proximate Questions?
HOW behavior is triggered, its physiological mechanisms, & genetic influences driving da response to stimuli.
Define Proximate Causes
Answers about immediate mechanisms for behaviors.
What abt Ultimate Questions?
WHY a behavior occurs.
Define Ultimate Causes
evolutionary explanations that lie in adaptive value of a behavior.
Define Innate Behaviors
behaviors that don’t have to be
learned / under strong genetic control / may differ at diff times of life or between sexes
Define Fixed Action Patterns
series of actions triggered by a specific
stimulus that must be performed
Info on ‘Behavioral Influences’
Behavior is shaped by genetics & environment / Genes - learning, memory, and mating / E factors - diet & social interactions modify gene expression / Some species’ sex is environment-dependent, & behaviors can be inherited through social influences.
Define Learning
modification of behavior as a result of specific experiences.
Define Imprinting
learning that is irreversible & limited to a time period in an animal’s life
Define Spatial Learning
use of landmarks to learn the spatial
structure of the environment.
Define Social Learning
learning by observing and mimicking others
Define Problem Solving
intensive behavior that arises in response
to a new situation.
Info on Habituation
Learns not to respond to useless stimuli / Boosts fitness by helping animals focus on important stimuli (food, mates, danger, etc.. )
Define Kinesis
A random movement in response to stimulus
Define Taxis
A response directed toward
(positive taxis) or away from (negative taxis) a stimulus
Define Migration
regular back-and-forth movement of animals between 2 geographic areas.
Info on Migration
Guided by environmental cues like stars and landmarks / Primarily genetic but can involve social learning in some species
Define Associative Learning
ability to associate one environmental feature w/ another
Info on Associative Learning
Thru trial-and-error, animals repeat behaviors w/ rewards & avoid harmful ones / Memory plays crucial role in this
Example of Social Learning
Predators mimicking their mothers’ hunting tactics & responding to alarm calls in predator presence.
Define Cognition
process carried out by animal’s nervous system to perceive, store, integrate, & use info gathered by the senses
