Control of behaviour Flashcards
Definition of control?
-what initiates the behaviour to begin with
What is the neuroendocrine response?
- enables them to direct the behaviour correctly
- nervous system linked with the endocrine system
What are the factors that cause behaviour?
- internal
- external
- context dependent
- errors in behavioural response
Definition of internal factors?
- around the body
- endogenous
What are the two internal factors?
- biological rhythms
- motivation
Definition of biological rhythms?
- 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)
Example of biological rhythms causing a behaviour?
- 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
Definition of motivations?
- needs of the animal that make them want to pursue a certain behaviour
- can be homeostatic or non-homeostatic
Definition of homeostasis?
- the physiological and cellular reactions inside the body within the body that keep it running
- e.g. hunger, thirst
Example of homeostasis causing a behaviour?
- 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
Definition of non-homeostasis?
- related to breeding or courtship
- putting personal needs aside to focus on making the next generation
Example of non-homeostasis causing a behaviour?
- 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
What are the the two external causes of behaviour?
- abiotic
- biotic
Definition of abiotic?
- non-living factors of the environment
- e.g. light, temperature, tide, landmarks
Example of abiotic factors causing a behaviour?
- 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
Definition of biotic?
- living factors around the individual
- e.g. population density, sex ratio
Example of biotic factors causing a behaviour?
- 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
Definition of context dependent factors?
- 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
Example of context dependent factors causing a behaviour?
- 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
Definition of errors in behavioural response?
-misconception or misidentification of stimuli
Example of errors causing a behaviour?
- 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
