Internal and External Factors influencing behaviours Flashcards
Internal factor influencing behaviours
Hunger and thirst
Hormones (aggression, reproduction etc.)
Stress, anxiety, fear
Health
Fatigue
Hormones
Chemical messages that are sent around the body to change certain characteristics and behaviours
Sex hormones
Responsible for secondary sexual characteristics , maturing sex cells and stimulating mating behaviours
Influences of sex hormones
Influence:
Levels of aggression
Courtship behaviour
Parental behaviour
Social behaviour
Testosterone
heightened aggression in animals , castration being a possibility when it comes to reducing the levels of aggression
ex : male deers in autumn
Oestrogen
heightened receptivity to mating, also known as being in heat
Progesterone
stimulates nesting /maternal behaviour
External behaviours influencing behaviours
Other animals
E.g. predator/ prey, social mix
Accommodation and husbandry
Weather/ seasons
Human interaction
Other animals
2 types of other animals which includes intraspecific and interspecific
Intraspecific
Animals within the same species including sexual attraction , competition for a mate , competition for resources or territory
Interspecific
Animals of different species including fear of unknown species , fear of known species , competition for resources and territory
Seasonal variation including food availability
Spring, autumn, summer and winter
Food availability
Hibernation
Food hoarding
Migration
Increase in territorial behaviour
Breeding
Less selective about food preferences
Increased aggression
Seasonal variation including daylight
Depending on latitude - no seasonal variation at the equator
Evolutionary benefit
Circadian rhythm
Activity patterns
Seasonal breeding cycles
Seasonal variation including weather
Impacts food availability
Temperature linked to end of hibernation
Tunneling to avoid extreme heat/cold
Big impact on ectotherms
