DAT Animal Behavior Flashcards
Simple reflexes
these are automatic
and involve two nerves: afferent and
efferent nerves. The response to
stimulus is controlled at the spinal cord.
Complex reflexes
these are automatic
responses to significant stimulus. This is
slower than simple reflexes because the
nerves do not directly synapse with each
other at the central nervous system like
in simple reflexes. Instead, the nerves in
complex reflexes are separated by an
interneuron. (controlled at brain stem or cerebrum )
Instinct
behaviors that are innate or
inherited.
Fixed action patterns (FAP)
these are innate
behaviors that follow a regular, unvarying
pattern. Fixed action patterns are initiated by a
specific stimulus called a sign stimuli. The sign
stimuli is called a releaser when it is between
members of the same species. In many FAPs,
the action will be completed even if the original
sign stimuli is removed.
Imprinting
- this is an innate program for
acquiring specific behaviors only if the
appropriate stimulus is experienced during the
critical/sensitive period. Once acquired, the
trait is irreversible. It can influence sexual
selection.
Associative learning
occurs when an
animal recognizes (learns) that events are
connected.
Classical conditioning
the most well-
known example of classical conditioning
are Pavlov’s dogs. Dogs naturally
salivate when presented with food. This
salivation caused by food is called the
unconditioned response, which is an
innate reflex, and the food stimulus is
the unconditioned stimulus. Pavlov then
rings a bell when food is presented, and
after some time, the dogs associated
the bell sound with the food stimulus.
However, ringing a bell with no food
during the beginning of the experiment
will not cause any response in the dog
because the bell sound was still a
neutral stimulus. At the end though, the
dogs ended up salivating just at the
sound of the bell without needing the
food/unconditioned stimulus. Thus, the
bell sound became the conditioned
stimulus that will elicit a response even
in the absence of the unconditioned
stimulus. The salivation caused by the
conditioned stimulus is called the
conditioned response/reflex.
Trial-and-error learning (operant
conditioning)
form of
associative learning that occurs when an
animal connects its own behavior with
either a punishment or reward.
Positive punishment
adding
something bad to decrease a
behavior (e.g., hitting an animal
when it bites someone)
Negative punishment
taking away
something good to decrease a
behavior (e.g., not giving treats to
an animal when it does not follow
orders)
Positive reinforcement
adding
something good to increase a
behavior (e.g., giving treats to a dog
when it follows orders)
Negative reinforcement
taking
away something bad to increase a
behavior (e.g., taking off an electric
shock collar of a dog when it follows
orders)
extinction.
learned behavior can be reversed in
the absence of reinforcement.
spontaneous
recovery.
recovery of a
conditioned response to a conditioned
stimulus after a previously extinguished
response
Spatial learning
animal associates landmarks with a
specific location. The animal then may
associate that location as safe or
dangerous and can return to that
location.
Habituation
this is a learned behavior that
allows individuals to ignore repetitive events
known to be inconsequential and remain
focused on other, more meaningful events.
Sensitization
the opposite of habituation. An
increased response to a repeated stimulus.
Observational/social learning
this is when an
animal copies the behavior of another animal
without having experienced any feedback
themselves.
Insight
when an animal is exposed to a new
situation they have never seen before, yet they
still perform a behavior that generates a
positive outcome.
Inherited behaviors evolved because they…
increased fitness
Stimulus generalization
this is when an
organism responds to stimuli similar to the
original stimulus but not identical to the
original conditioned stimulus.
Stimulus discrimination
- this is the ability of
the learning organism to differentially respond
to slightly different stimuli
Generalization gradient
this is a gradient
where the further a stimulus is from the original
conditioned stimulus, the lesser of the
magnitude of response in the animal.
Kinesis
an undirected (without
direction) change in the speed of an
animal’s movement in response to a
stimulus.
Taxis
a directed movement in response
to a stimulus. Movement is either
toward or away from the stimulus.
chemicals used for
communication are called…
pheromones
Chemicals that trigger reversible
behavioral changes are called…
releaser pharamones
Chemicals that cause long
term physiological (and behavioral)
changes are called
primer pharamones
Visual communication
can be
used to signify aggression or used
during courtship.
Threats
an example of a threat is a
wolf baring its teeth
Aggression
fighting between
animals. However, this is usually
dangerous to both parties
Submission
an example is an
animal laying on its back to portray
submission to another animal
Auditory communication
sounds are
commonly used for communication over
long distances, through water, and at
night. The sounds may be used to warn
danger, to communicate reproductive
readiness, for species recognition, as
warning against rivals, etc.
Tactile communication
involves touch. Tactile
communication is common in social
bonding, infant care, grooming, and
mating
Herds, flocks, and schools
cooperate and carry out a
behavior more successfully as a group.
Vigilance (herd)
in a group, individuals
can trade off foraging and watching
for predators. There are also more
individuals watching out for
predators
Defense (herd)
- a group of individuals can
shield their young or mob a
predator
Agonistic behavior
consists of
threats, aggression, and submission.
Agonistic behavior originates from
competition for food, mates, or
territory. Agnostic behavior is ritualized,
so injuries and time spent in contests
are minimized
Dominance hierarchies
- animals in a
hierarchy have different levels of power
and status depending on their rank in
the group. Having a hierarchy does
minimize fighting for food and mates
Territoriality
the active possession and
defense of territory to ensure adequate
food and place to mate
Altruistic behavior
seemingly
unselfish behavior that appears to
reduce the fitness of an individual. An
example of altruistic behavior is when
an animal risks its safety in defense of
another, or when an animal helps
another individual of the same species
to rear its young.
Reciprocal altruism
is when
unrelated members of the same
species help each other.
Hamilton’s rule
principle that
for natural selection to favor an altruistic act, rB > C. (r) is the
genetic relatedness between the
altruist and the relative. (B) is the
amount of genes the relative can
pass on after it is helped by an
altruist. (C) is the altruist’s direct
fitness, which is the number of
genes that animal can pass on by
itself, disregarding relatives. If when
(r) and (B) are multiplied is greater
than (C), then altruistic behavior can
occur
Appeasement behavior
pacifying social
behavior that seeks to pacify aggression or to
avoid being attacked by showing an inferior
social stance (e.g., moving/turning away).
Game theory
refers
to the successful outcome of mating depending
on dynamic, constantly shifting strategies of all
the individuals involved.
Semelparity
one-shot, big-bang
reproduction. Many offspring are produced in a
single reproductive opportunity. The survival
rate of offspring is low but there is a higher
number of offspring.
Iteroparity
repeated reproduction. There are
relatively few but large offspring each time
reproduction occurs.
