Chapter 51 Flashcards
Ultimate Causation
Concerns the benefit to survival and reproduction and the evolutionary basis of the behavior; the why
Proximate Causation
The immediate cause of a behavior in terms of the stimuli that trigger it; the how
Behavioral Ecology
The study of the ecological and evolutionary basis of animal behavior
Fixed Action Plan (FAP)
Sequence of unlearned behaviors that, once begun must be carried to completion
Sign Stimulus
A simple external stimulus
Migration
An annual long distance change in location
Circadian Clock
The biological clock internal to every animal
Circannual rhythms
Rhythms that are linked to the yearly cycle of seasons and influenced by the changing amounts of daylight and darkness
Communication
Transmission and reception of signals between animals
Stimulus Response Chain
Involved in courtship; the response is the stimulus for the next response
Visual, Auditory, Chemical, and Tactile
Communication methods
Pheromones
Chemical signals commonly used by animals in reproductive behavior to attract mates and trigger specific behaviors
Innate Behavior
Behavior performed by virtually every member of a population
Cross-fostering Study
One species young raised by another species adult
Learning
Behavior modification due to experiences
Imprinting
Characterized by the sensitive period, where learning is very long lasting
Spatial learning
Memory of the environment
Associative learning
Stimuli are associated with each other
Classical conditioning
Arbitrary stimulus is associated with a particular outcome
Operant condition
Trial and error; action is associated with reward or punishment
Cognition
Ability to learn with thinking, reasoning, recollection, and judgement
Problem-solving
Ability to achieve an end in the face of obstacles
Social learning
Learning from others actions
Foraging
Behavior involved with searching for, recognizing, obtaining, and consuming food
Optimal foraging model
Feeding behaviors optimize between energy intake, risk of predation, and energy expenditure
Promiscuous
No strong pair forms when mating
Monogamous
One to one mating
Polygamous
One of one sex, many of the other (usually one male)
Intrasexual
Competition among one sex for mates
Intersexual
Mates are chosen by one sex based upon characteristics
Mate choice copying
Mate selection is mimicked among a population
Agonistic behavior
Involves contest to see who gets access to a particular resource
Altruism
Selflessness; reduces own fitness for others
Inclusive fitness
Passing on own genes and helping other relatives do so
Kin selection
Natural selection that favors behavior that enhances the reproductive advantage of related individuals
Reciprocal altruism
No immediate benefit to the individual, but the benefited animal may “return the favor” in the future
