Control of behaviour

Question 1

Definition of control?

Answer 1

-what initiates the behaviour to begin with

Question 2

What is the neuroendocrine response?

Answer 2

• enables them to direct the behaviour correctly

- nervous system linked with the endocrine system

Question 3

What are the factors that cause behaviour?

Answer 3

• internal
• external
• context dependent
• errors in behavioural response

Question 4

Definition of internal factors?

Answer 4

• around the body

- endogenous

Question 5

What are the two internal factors?

Answer 5

• biological rhythms

- motivation

Question 6

Definition of biological rhythms?

Answer 6

• fixed and controlled times for behaviours to occur as it’s when it’s most profitable to the animal
• usually in tune with seasonal changes (e.g. migration)

Question 7

Example of biological rhythms causing a behaviour?

Answer 7

• mudskipper (neripohthalmus barbarous)
• use fins to drag themselves out of the water
• so they need to be aware of the moon and in tune with the tides so that they know to go when it’s at low tide to forge in the sands

Question 8

Definition of motivations?

Answer 8

• needs of the animal that make them want to pursue a certain behaviour
• can be homeostatic or non-homeostatic

Question 9

Definition of homeostasis?

Answer 9

• the physiological and cellular reactions inside the body within the body that keep it running
• e.g. hunger, thirst

Question 10

Example of homeostasis causing a behaviour?

Answer 10

• red kangaroo (macropus rufus)
• need to thermo regulate due to the hot sand to ensure they aren’t cooked
• cover front paws with saliva and face towards the winds to cool them down
• removes heat from inside their body but also comes at a loss of water for them
• other method is digging to get to the cool layer of sand and laying on it

Question 11

Definition of non-homeostasis?

Answer 11

• related to breeding or courtship

- putting personal needs aside to focus on making the next generation

Question 12

Example of non-homeostasis causing a behaviour?

Answer 12

• salmon
• use their sense of smell to return to where they were born
• though they will starve to death once they get their and spawn

Question 13

What are the the two external causes of behaviour?

Answer 13

• abiotic

- biotic

Question 14

Definition of abiotic?

Answer 14

• non-living factors of the environment

- e.g. light, temperature, tide, landmarks

Question 15

Example of abiotic factors causing a behaviour?

Answer 15

• indigo bunting bird (Passerina cyanea)
• travel between summer and winter ranges where certain behaviours can be performed
• can only breed in the summer
• use landmarks and celestial bodies to know they’re going the right place
• when the temperature begins to change in the summer area they know to begin travel back down to the winter areas

Question 16

Definition of biotic?

Answer 16

• living factors around the individual

- e.g. population density, sex ratio

Question 17

Example of biotic factors causing a behaviour?

Answer 17

• desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria)
• sparse social interaction leads to a green colouring, a lot of eggs get eaten so when they’re green they’re able to hide away more
• dense social interaction leads to brown colouring, hairs on their legs alert them that others are nearby so they can swarm and fly for food
• the more they bump into each other the more their phenotype changes

Question 18

Definition of context dependent factors?

Answer 18

• alteration of a reaction to a stimuli with time
• animal is able to differnetiate between stimuli to produce the most appropriate response
• has fitness benefit

Question 19

Example of context dependent factors causing a behaviour?

Answer 19

• woodcock
• once hatched they crouch to keep safe from predators
• learn to filter out the different stimuli, based on whether they are a threat or not
• don’t waste energy this way on crouching for something that isn’t a threat to them

Question 20

Definition of errors in behavioural response?

Answer 20

-misconception or misidentification of stimuli

Question 21

Example of errors causing a behaviour?

Answer 21

• hatchling turtles
• use smell to recognise where they are to return to their home beaches to lay their eggs
• hatch at full moon as it provides light to show the sea but also keeps them safe from daytime predators
• hotels may become the brighter form of light over the moon leading them to not know where the sea is