INTRO Flashcards
Scientific study of animal behavior
Ethology
Factors that animals cannot control
Internal stimuli
Factors that animals can react in response to (ex: not / cold temperature)
External stimuli
Movement that animal makes in response to external or internal stimuli
Behavior
Describing behavior in an animal’s natural habitat, comparing similar behaviors in closely related species
Classical ethology
Observation and recording of animal behavior
Ethogram
Immediate reason or cause for behavior
Causation
Development of an animal throughout its lifespan
Ontogeny
Progeny
Offspring
Measure of reproductive success
Fitness
Ability to leave progeny in the next generation
Fitness
Behavior that appears in fully functional form the first time it is performed
Instinct
The basic unit of heredity
Gene
Basis of characteristic processes of growth,development, and reproduction
Gene
Observable characteristics/ behavior
Phenotype
Unique combination of genes possessed by no other animals unless it has an identical twin
Genotype
Alters behavior by increasing growth rate sexual maturity
Hybridization
Application of the body of knowledge about behavior to practical problems and situations
Applied animal behavior
Study on animal learning and attempts to elucidate laws of behavior by studying laboratory species
Animal psychology
Explains the changes occurring within the species
Natural selection
Selection of individuals that were most fit
Natural selection
2 major types of change under natural selection
Divergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Interaction of genes and environment in which each phase of development sets the age for the next
Epigenesis
_____ influences upon development are most important just after birth or hatching
Environment
Process of learning that occurs at a particular stage of development
Imprinting
Evolutionary phenomenon involving changes in the gene pool of population
Domestication
Breeding care, and feeding of animal more or less controlled by man
Domestication
First domesticated animal
Dog
Animals that have never been domesticated
Wild animals
Animals that have lost their fear in man
Tamed animals
Animals that were one time domesticated but are no longer cared for by man
Feral
Behavioral changes under domestication (4)
Loss of pair bonding
Loss of broodiness
Reduced flightiness& aggressiveness
Extension of breeding season
An animal’s _____ is the product of its genetic composition the environment in which the animal functions, and the animal’s experience
Behavior
5 freedoms equally important for family pets
Hunger and thirst
Discomfort
Pain, injury, or disease
Fear and distress
Freedom to express normal species behavior
Show dysfunction in action and behavior
Abnormal behavior
Agonistic behavior
Aggression
Is an endogenous timing system that continues without any external cues and controls the activities of plants and animals
Biological clock
4 biological rhythms
Circadian
Circatidal
Circalunar
Circannual
3 types of circadian rhythm’s
Diurnal
Nocturnal
Crepuscular
2 types of crepuscular animals
Matutinal
Vespertine
Behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle
Circadian rhythms
Active by day
Diurnal
Active by night
Nocturnal
Active by dusk/dawn.
Crepuscular
Crepuscular animals active at dawn
Matutinal
Crepuscular animals active at dusk
Vespertine
Rhythms are cycles synchronized by tides
Circatidal
Rhythmic behavior with a period of a lunar month
Circalunar
often associated with migratory behaviors, hibernation, dormancy, etc
Circannual rhythms
Traits favoring animal domestication (5)
Stable dominance relationship
Sexual dimorphism
Rapid bonding of mother to young
Precocial development
Adaptable to change
Heterogenous group of behaviors that include both stereotypies and compulsive/ impulsive behaviors
Abnormal repetitive behaviors
Any of the behaviors that are maladaptive, repetitive or fixed, and pathologically abnormal
Abnormal repetitive behavior
Anticipation of future danger or misfortune
Anxiety
Arises when a pet has competing motivations more than one opposing behavior
Conflict
The animal is unable -physically or behaviorally -to execute another activity or otherwise occupy itself
Displacement behavior
The behavior may be out of context with the situation
Displacement behavior
Competitive control over a resource in a limited circumstance and to the ability of a higher-ranking animal to displace a lower-ranking one from that resource
Dominance
Feeling of apprehension associated with the presence or proximity of an object, individual or social situation
Fear
When an animal is motivated to engage in a sequence of behaviors that is unable to complete because of physical and psychological obstacles in the environment
Frustration
When individuals in one species, or closely related species, acquire enough variations in their traits that it leads to two distinct new species
Divergent evolution
When two unrelated species develop similar traits because they live in similar environments
Convergent evolution
Involve sudden, all-or-nothing, profound, abnormal responses that result in extremely fearful behaviors
Phobia
When the animal is in a state of emotional arousal and is unable to reach the appropriate target, the behavior can be redirected to an alternative target if the animal is interrupted
Redirected behavior
Persevering repetition of behaviors that are unvaried in sequence and have no obvious purpose or function
Stereotypic behaviors
When an animal is highly motivated to perform an instinctive behavior but there is no available outlet
Vacuum activity
Ethology is made up of 2 Greek words + meaning
Ethos - habit
Logos - study
Most common examples of animal behavior
Feeding
Courtship
Nesting
Migration
Hunting
Aggression
Breeding activity
Territorial behavior
Alters behavior by changing The gene construction of the nucleus, leading to differences from parent forms
Mutation
May be the next domesticated animal
Sheep
What percentage of animals are nocturnal
70%
Why do nocturnal animals tend to be active at night?
To evade predators and hunt with less competition
What do circadian rhythms affect in animals?
Sleeping and feeding patterns
Brain have activity
Hormone production
Other biological activities
How often do circatidal rhythms occur?
Roughly twice per day
What causes circannual rhythms?.
Tilt of the earth’s axis, causing seasonal changes
Determinants of animal behavior
Natural selection
Genetics
Environment
Domestication
