Intro To Ethology & Animalwelfare Flashcards
The science of animal and comparative behavior
Ethology
Courses on innate, species-typical behaviors seen in nature and on how these behaviors adapt animals to their environment
Ethology
Concerned with the relationship between genes and behavior
Behavior genetics
Focus principally on learned behaviors
Experimental / comparative psychology
Focuses on the evolution of adaptive behavior in relation to the environment
Behavior ecology
Studies the dynamics of behavior in populations of animals - behavioral differences between individuals of the same species
Behavioral ecology
Concentrate on individuals or small groups
Classical ethology
Explains the mechanisms of behavior in terms of structure and functions of the nervous system
Neurobiology
Concentrates on neural mechanisms that underlie species-typical behaviors
Neuroethology
An intricate behavior that allows bees to communicate the location of a food source to other bees in the hive
“Dance” of bees
Consists of a series of actions triggered by a key stimulus; the pattern will go to completion even if the stimulus is removed
Fixed action patterns in vertebrae
Any stimulus that elicits a FAP (fixed action pattern)
Sign stimulus
Strongly exaggerated sign stimulus, will trigger a response way stronger than normal
Super sign stimulus
Has centered on aggression, which when not expressed at the cause of aggressive drive, is directed at another animal or at an inanimate object
Redirected behavior
Self-grooming, touching, or scratching, which is displayed when an animal has a conflict between two drives, such as the desire to approach an object, while at the same time being fearful of that object
Displacement behavior
Indicator of anxiety
Self-directed behavior
Describe how certain innate behaviors evolved into signals so that they function in communication
Ritualization
Relate specific behaviors to specific genes or group-genes
Behavior genetics
A measure that compares the amount of phenotypic variability that is due strictly to the variations in genes with the total amount of phenotypic variability in the population
Heritability
The diminishing of a physiological or emotional response to a frequently repeated stimulus
Habituation
Form of non-associative learning in which an innate response to a stimulus decreases after repeated or prolonged presentations that stimulus
Habituation
Repeated administration of a stimulus results in the progressive amplification of a response
Sensitization
Enhancement d response to a whole class of stimuli in addition to the one that is repeated
Sensitization
A person or animal learns an association between two stimuli or events
Associative learning
A normal response to a stimulus becomes associated with a new stimulus, which then is also capable of eliciting the response
Classical conditioning
The sequence of events is contingent upon the behavior of the animal
Operant conditioning
Exploratory learning; an animal stores information about its environment that later can influence its behavior
Latent learning
The intuitive solution to a problem; most difficult type of learning to demonstrate conclusively in animals
Insight learning
One “sees the light”; solves a problem through insight only when it recognizes the relationships,
Aha experience
Form of learning in which a very young animal fixes its attention on the first object with which it has visual, auditory, or tactile experience and thereafter follows that object
Imprinting
Involves adaptive interactions among animals, especially among embers of the same species
Social behavior
Exchanges of mutually recognizable signals
Communication
Secreted chemical signal used to trigger a response in another individual of the same species
Pheromone
Purpose is to attract opposite sex, raise an alarm, mark a food trail, or trigger other more complex behavior
Pheromone
Elicit an immediate response, response is rapid and reliable; usually linked to sexual attraction
Releaser
Takes longer to get a response; affect over time endocrine or neuroendocrine systems related to reproductive physiology or development
Primer
Provide information regarding the individual
Signaler
Can either alter or synchronize bodily functions; affect mood and emotion
Modulator
Communication based on sound
Auditory communication
Signals that can be seen
Visual communication
Limited in range; play an important role in social relationships
Tactile communication
Play a role in the survival of very young organisms
Tactile communication
Form of animal social structures
Dominance hierarchies
System of society ruled by a female
Matriarchy
System of society riled by a male
Patriarchy
Results from the behavioral exclusion of others from a specific place that is defended as territory
Territoriality
Adaptive; tends to reduce conflict, control population growth
Territoriality
Ensures that the male is a member of the same species, provides the female the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the male
Courtship
A stable relationship between animals of the opposite sex that ensures cooperative behavior in mating and rearing of the young
Pair bond
Component of sexual reproduction; increased survival of the offspring but with a reduction in the number of offspring that can be produced
Care of the young
Means of practicing adult patterns of behavior and perfecting means of escape, prey killing, and even sexual conduct
Play
Branch of philosophy which is concerned with the morality of an individual’s actions
Ethics
Is the proposition that the moral worth of an action is solely determined by its contribution to overall utility
Utilitarianism
The but itself, to be moral, must have a pure intention behind it, regardless of the final consequences
Counter-utilitarian idea
What matters is relative cost and benefit to us alone, treating animals well can serve us well
Contractarian
Sentience is morally relevant so costs and benefits to people and animals must be weighed up; greatest good for the greatest number overall
Utilitarian
Consequences for species not individuals
Respect for nature
Animals’ intrinsic value as subjects of life confers the right to direct own lives and not be killed or used as a means to an end
Animal rights
Mutually beneficial relationship - animals depend on us for food, and in return we use their products
Relational (care ethics)
Animals’ dependence on us as caregivers obliges us to treat our animals well
Relational (care ethics)
Known as deontological theories
Obligation-based theories
Animals may be used as a means to an end; the animal’s value lies only in the consequences of its use
Consequentialist theories
Five freedoms
Freedom from:
Hunger or thirst
Discomfort
Pain, injury, or disease
Fear and distress
Freedom to express normal behavior
Set animal welfare standards to allay public concern and maximize benefits to people
Contractarian
3 Rs
Replace
Reduce
Refine
The use of animals with alternative techniques, or avoid the use of animals altogether
Replace
The number of animals used to a minimum, to obtain information from fewer animals or more information from the same number of animals
Reduce
The way experiments are carried out, to make sure animals suffer as little as possible
Refine
For purpose of this act, animal welfare pertains to the physical and psychological well-being of animals
RA No. 8485 - animal welfare act of 1998
RA 10631
It shall be the duty of any pet owner to provide in all cases adequate clean, and sanitary facilities for the safe conveyance and delivery. They shall provide sufficient food and water for such animals
RA No 8485
RA 10631 Sec. 4
It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect, or maltreat
RA No 8485
RA 10631 Sec 6
It shall be unlawful to any person who has custody of an animal to abandon the animal
RA No. 8485
RA 10631 sec 7
