Topic 3 Animal Behavior: Animal Movement

Question 1

• Communication is used in species recognition, mating behavior, and organizing social behavior. Communication can be:

Answer 1

Note

Question 2

• Chemicals used for communication are called pheromones. Chemicals that trigger reversible behavioral changes are called releaser pheromones. Chemicals that cause long term physiological (and behavioral) changes are called primer pheromones. Some pheromones trigger a response via smell, others trigger a response when eaten. Ants use formic acid to mark a trail to food which is an example of releaser pheromones. Queen bees and ants secrete primer pheromones to prevent the development of reproductive capabilities. Some pheromones are territorial (e.g., cats and dogs pee on territory to claim it). Pheromones can act as alarm symbols (e.g., minnow alarm response). Pheromones can act as sex attractants, territory markers, and accelerate reproductive maturity

Answer 2

1. Chemical

Question 3

• Communication can be done via visual displays. These displays can be used to signify aggression or used during courtship. Agonistic behaviors happen when an animal competes for territory, food, or a mate. Agonistic behaviors can be broken down into threats, aggression, and submission.

Answer 3

2. Visual

Question 4

a. Threats
b. Aggression
c. Submission

Answer 4

Types of Visual

Question 5

• An example of a threat is a wolf baring its teeth

Answer 5

a. Threats

Question 6

• Fighting between animals. However, this is usually dangerous to both parties

Answer 6

b. Aggression

Question 7

• An example is an animal laying on its back to portray submission to another animal
• Male sage grouses assemble into groups (leks) to perform a courtship dance. Another example of a ritual is the stickleback fish. The female is attracted to the red belly of a male. The female adopts a head-up posture to initiate courtship, the male makes a zigzag motion, and the female follows the male to the nest. If the nest is acceptable, the female enters and deposits eggs in response to the male prodding her tail. The female then leaves, and the male enters and fertilizes the eggs. The red belly, head- up posture, zigzag motion, and swimming to the nest are all visual cues here.

Answer 7

c. Submission

Question 8

• This type of communication uses sounds. These sounds are commonly used for communication over long distances, through water, and at night. The sounds may be used to warn danger, to communicate reproductive readiness, for species recognition, as warning against rivals, etc. Whales can use infrasound, which can be heard for hundreds of miles by other whales. Male birds also use auditory communication to attract other females

Answer 8

3. Auditory

Question 9

• This type of communication between animals involves touch. Tactile communication is common in social bonding, infant care, grooming, and mating

Answer 9

4. Tactile

Question 10

• Bees use auditory, tactile, and chemical communication to communicate food proximity. They perform a waggle dance to communicate all this information.

Answer 10

Note