DAT bio Chapter 15 Animal behavior Flashcards
What is ethology?
study of animal behaviors
which are inherited (innate) or learned
examples of inherited behaviors (innate)
instincts
reflexes
fixed action patterns
imprinting
What is instinct
(inherited) innate behaviors that occur without
thought. eg: birds undergoing migration in
response to seasonal changes.
What is reflexes
involuntary rapid responses to a
stimulus. Reflex arcs are controlled by a neural
circuit. There are 2 types:
2 types of reflexes
simple reflexes: most rapid
complex reflexes: slower
what is fixed action patterns?
behavior that is initiated by a specific stimulus. Once this stimulus initiates the fixed action pattern, the behavior will almost always continue to completion. This is true even when the stimulus is removed during the behavior.
What is imprinting?
innate way that animals learn
behaviors that will never be forgotten. Occurs
during the critical period or critical imprinting
stage (eg: ducklings treating a moving object as
their mother & following it).
What is learned behavior
increase an animal’s fitness because they allow animals to adapt to unexpected events, creating behaviors that will be more advantageous the next time that event occur
types of learned behavior
classical
operant
associative
What is classical conditioning?
pairing a neutral
stimulus (elicits no physiological response) to an
unconditioned stimulus (naturally elicits a
physiological response - unconditioned
response).
This conditions the unconditioned
response to be mentally paired with a neutral
stimulus (becomes a conditioned stimulus)
resulting in a conditioned response.
Example of classical conditoning
the bell is the neutral stimulus because its not making the dog salivate
The food is the unconditioned stimulus
The salivation from the dog is the unconditioned response.
You ring the bell everytime you give the food to the dog!
However, if the bell is rung every time the dog is presented with food, the dog will be classically conditioned to associate the bell with food. It will then begin to salivate when it hears a bell, and the bell will no longer be a neutral stimulus. Instead, it will be a conditioned stimulus!
So, in response to the conditioned stimulus (bell) there will be a conditioned response (salivation). Before the classical association, ringing a bell would not generate a response in the dogs.
Stimulus generalization:
a conditioned
animal responds to stimuli not identical to
the original conditioned stimulus. The more a
stimulus differs from the original conditioned
stimulus, the smaller the conditioned
response (stimulus generalization
gradient).
Stimulus discrimination:
differentiation
between a conditioned stimulus and other
similar, but different, non-conditioned stimuli.
- Operant conditioning:
learning to associate a
behavior with a reward (increases behavior) or a
punishment (decreases behavior).
positive punishment
adds something bad to decrease behavior
positive reinforcement
adds something good to increase the behavrio
negative punishment
take away something good to decrease behavior
negative reinforcement
take away something bad to increase a behavior
Associative Learning:
learning that two things
are connected to each other. Increases stimulus
response efficiency. Can be forgotten (extinction)
or remembered via re-association (recovery)
Spatial learning:
associating a response with
a specific location.
Sensitization:
as stimulus occurs more often,
behavioral response increases.
Habituation:
decreasing behavioral response in response to repetitive, meaningless stimulus. If stimulus is absent for some time, spontaneous recovery of the behavior can occur.
Observational learning:
learning: learning by
watching another animal perform the same
behavior.The animal learns without
reinforcement and increases efficiency.
Insight:
learning in a new situation. No
reinforcement required.
Kinesis:
changing speed in random directions -
no target (Favourable environment → reduce
speed; Unfavourable environment → increase
speed). eg: flatworm escaping when exposed to
light.
Taxis:
movement with a specific direction,
towards (positive taxis) or away (negative taxis)
from a stimulus. Light stimulus = phototaxis;
chemical stimulus = chemotaxis.
Visual communication
associated with aggressive (eg: wolves
baring teeth) and submissive behaviors (eg:
wolves lowering tail). Another example is
courtship/mating rituals.
auditory
communication via sounds.
Beneficial at night and over long distances.
Tactile:
communication via touch (eg: wolves
greeting by licking muzzles).
Chemical:
communication via chemicals.
Releaser pheromones (immediate, reversible
behaviors) and primer pheromones (long term
behaviors).
Agonistic behaviors:
competing for food,
territory, or mates. Include: threats, aggression
(often detrimental to both parties), and
submission.
Appeasement behavior
(a threat
by one animal causes another animal’s
submission) avoids aggression (prevents injuries).
Search images:
abbreviating what food looks like
to quickly locate abundant and safe food without
much thought.
Altruistic behaviors:
sacrifices made for
relatives.
Inclusive fitness
sum of animal’s direct (genes animal passes on) and indirect (genes passed on by relatives) fitness. Increased by indirect fitness (kin selection).
For altruistic behaviors to occur what must happen
indirect fitness > direct fitness
Reciprocal altruism:
sacrifices made for
other organisms in anticipation of a future
reward (‘I help your family, you later help
mine’).
Female choice
increases attractive traits in
males.
Male competition
rewards strongest males
with more mating opportunities.
Sexual dimorphism:
males and females of
same species look different (eg. males larger
than females).
Polygyny
one male multiple females.
Polyandry
one female multiple males.
Semelparity
mate once in lifetime (multiple
offspring, low survival, harsh conditions, no
parental care).
Iteroparity =
mate many times in lifetime
(one offspring, high survival, dependable
environment, parental care).
