Ecology / Animal Behavior Flashcards
Nature
Genetics
Nurture
Parenting style / Environmental factors
________ and the _______ both influence behavior
Genes and Environment
Innate Behavior
Genetic influence
Ex. ( eating when hungry)
Learned Behavior
taught
Ex. Mother bears teach their cubs about hunting, berry picking, fishing, and the best places to find tasty grubs)
Cooperative behavior
Shared resources / Groups
Ex. (group of lions eats a bull)
Agonistic
Social Behavior involving fighting (Generally no harm is done)
Ex. dog growling
Agonistic Behavior / 3 different divisions
1) threats
2) aggression
3) submission
Fixed Action Patterns
sequence that must be completed once begun
Ex. 3 spined stickleback fish in response to the reed underside of an intruder fish.
Imprinting (Innate)
attachment occurs during a critical period
Ex. Incubator - hatched goslings imprinted on scientist during first few hours of life and followed him
Kinesis
random movement
Ex. Isopodes live best in moist conditions, move in dry areas to increase likelihood of encountering a moist area
Taxis
directed movement
Ex. Moths flying towards a light bulb
Migration
Using sun(seasonal changes),stars, Earth’s magnetic field
Ex. salmon starts life in rivers and migrate to sea to feed and grow
Signal
behavior that causes change in another’s behavior
ex. tail tip vibration of a rattle snake.
Communication
1) Transmission
2) Reception
3) Response
Animal communication
Behavior has an effect on the current/future behavior of another
Learning
Modification of behavior
Ex. The bird that that acquires the song of its species
Maturation
body develops
ex frogs and slamanders
Habituation
Doesn’t impact survival so brain ignores stimulus
Ex rock squirrels are a commonly habituated animal in parks
Spatial Learning
Location of food/nest
Associative Learning
behavior through trial and error
Classical conditioning
Done by somthing/someone -animal response
Teaching a dog to sit with a bell
Cognition and Problem solving
Animals ability to think and comprehend / gain knowledge
Territoriality
defending area against each other
Ex. Wolf packs maintain territories in which they hunt and live.
Spraying behavior
mark territory
Ex. Skunks
Downside of territoriality
great deal of energy / might die defending / miss reproductive opp
Most social behaviors are _________
selfish
Altruism
decrease ones fitness but increases the other
Ex Bees
Operant conditioning
trial and error “the organism does it”
Ex. Dog rings bell
