Unit 1: Introduction and History of Ethology Flashcards
Ethology
The study of behavior, its cause, and biological function
What is behavior?
All activities animal engage in
- -> locomotion, grooming, reproduction, caring for young, communication
- can be simple or complex
Aristotle
Published observations and ideas about animal behavior
John Ray
Published text on instinctive behavior of birds
Charles Darwin
“The Expression of the Emotions of Man and Animals”
–> First modern work of comparative ethology
What were the two schools of thought about animal behavior in the 20th century?
- U.S. researchers: behavioristic approach
-controlled experiment in a laboratory setting
- mechanism of learning acquisition of behavior
B.F. Skinner –> Skinner box (reward/shock) to encourage behavior - European researchers: naturalistic approach
- observations of animals in the wild
- instinctive, innate, and adaptive behavior
What did Niko Tinbergen do?
Developed methodology for behavioral experiments
- Altered environment and recorded behavior
changes
Tinbergen’s 4 Questions
- What is the cause of this behavior?
- How does the behavior developed during ontogeny
(learned experiences)? - What is the function of the behavior?
- How does the behavior develop during phylogeny
(evolution)?
Fixed Action Patterns (FAP)
Instinctive responses that occur reliably (mating behaviors/ rituals)
Comparative vs Social ethology
Comparative: looking at animals as individuals
Social: social groups of animals, social structure
Behavioral ecology
Based on Tinberg’s questions, cost/benefit analysis of behaviors
Cognitive ethology
Studies what animal perceived, felt, and knowledge in relation to their behavior
Applied ethology
Study of the behavior of domestic animals (animals managed by humans)
—> animal welfare, optimizing production, behavioral
controls, behavioral disorders
Welfare assessment
Welfare of animals in farm, zoo, laboratories
~ what type of cage is best
~ What are the most essential behavior patterns
~ How is the animal affected if it cant behave in a
certain way
Optimizing production
How can we utilize what we know about behavior to improve production?
—> Feeding patterns, weaning time, important behaviors
Behavioral control
Control behavior of captive animals, use behavioral knowledge to improve controls of animals
Behavioral disorders
Disorders caused by
- Malfunctioning equipment
- Poor human management
examples: aggression, inappropriate urination, anxiety
The goal of applied ethology
Prevent or cure behavioral disorders
Companion animal behavior
Careers: veterinarian, trainer, behaviorist, researcher
Goals: to prevent behavioral disorders, improve interactions with humans and animals
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature: instincts, genetics
Nurture: environment raised in, learned behavior
Genetic effect on behavior
Genes carry instructions for behavior but do not predetermine an animal’s behavior.
What is gene expression controlled by?
environmental factors
When expressed, what do genes control the production of?
proteins, hormones, enzymes
Principles required for evolution
- Variation must exist in the behavior
- Some variation must be of genetic origin
- Natural selection of behaviors occurs
Does evolution create new behaviors?
No, but they may be a modified version
Modified behaviors
Modified versions of the ancestral form
Function of behaviors
Survival of the fittest
What benefit is ultimately measured by reproductive success?
Fitness
What must optimal behavior weigh?
Must weigh the costs and benefits of performing a task
Domestication
animal’s care, breeding, etc. subject to control pf humans
Training
Individual animal
What animals were chosen for domestication? Why?
Dogs, cats, horses, livestock.
Because they had a benefit to humans (food, companionship, work)
Do domesticated animals have increased or decreased fitness by living around humans?
Increased
Characteristics of domesticated animals
- Herbivores and omnivores (cats are exception)
- Physical traits (size, meat)
- Behaviors (social, no strong mating bond)
