The How And Why Of Animal Behavior

Question 1

Behaviour:

Answer 1

The way an organism acts or responds to stimuli in its environment, including actions, movements, and reactions.

Question 2

Proximate causation:

Answer 2

Immediate or direct factors that cause a specific behaviour, such as hormones, sensory stimuli, or neutral pathways, focusing on how the behaviour occurs in the present moment. It’s like looking at the triggers that lead to a behaviour.

Question 3

Ultimate causation:

Answer 3

Why the behaviour evolved over time, considering factors like survival benefits or genetic advantages. It’s like understanding the deeper reasons behind why a behaviour exists in a species.

Question 4

Pheromone:

Answer 4

Chemical signal that animals release to communicate with others of the same species, often influencing behaviour like mating or marking territory. It’s like a secret scent language that animals use to send messages and coordinate activities with each other.