Animal Behavior

Adaptive Behavioral Responses Stimulus – Stimulus – –Internal stimuli tell an animal what is happening in its own body Ex. Thirst, hunger, pain Ex. Thirst, hunger, pain –External stimuli give animals information about its surroundings Ex. sound, sight, changes in length of day Ex. sound, sight, changes in length of day

Internal and External Stimuli Interactions between internal and external stimuli usually trigger specific behaviors. Interactions between internal and external stimuli usually trigger specific behaviors. –Ex. What might be some internal and external stimuli that cause you to wake up in the morning?

Detection and Response to Stimuli Organs that are activated in response to stimuli: Organs that are activated in response to stimuli: 1. Endocrine System (glands) 2. Muscular System

Function of Behavior Homeostatic mechanism Homeostatic mechanism Two types of movement-related behaviors: Two types of movement-related behaviors: 1. kinesis – random movement 2. taxis – movement in a specific direction

Kinesis or Taxis? american-cockroaches-disperse-scurrying-stock- video-footage/ urce/vtl07.la.ws.style.moths/moths/

Cyclical Behaviors Circadian Rhythm – daily cycle of activity Circadian Rhythm – daily cycle of activity ex. sleep at night, active during day - Biological clock controls patterns

Hibernation Avoiding cold winter temperatures by entering a dormant state Avoiding cold winter temperatures by entering a dormant state –Lower body temperature –Reduced heartbeat –Slowed breathing rate –Not eating

Migration Periodic movement from one place to another and then back again. Periodic movement from one place to another and then back again. –Ex. birds, butterflies, whales –Seasonal

Instinct vs. Learning Instinct – inborn (innate) behavior Instinct – inborn (innate) behavior – behavior that is performed correctly the first time an animal tries it – behavior that is performed correctly the first time an animal tries it –Ex. spiders building webs

Instinctive behavior Mistakes can have severe consequences! Mistakes can have severe consequences! Important behavior for newborns. Important behavior for newborns. Baby turtles not racing to the ocean. Baby turtles not racing to the ocean. ch?v=w82xpBR_Z4A&edufilter =ITEV1GgfY7rUuGxSyy0SA

Instinct vs. Learning Animals often change their behavior as they gain experience ---they learn! Animals often change their behavior as they gain experience ---they learn! Types of learning: Habituation – learning to ignore a repeated stimulus (ex. plastic garden owls in garden) Habituation – learning to ignore a repeated stimulus (ex. plastic garden owls in garden)

Types of learning continued… Imprinting – a rapid and irreversible learning process that only occurs during a short time in an animal’s life Imprinting – a rapid and irreversible learning process that only occurs during a short time in an animal’s life –Ex. identifying parents

Classic scientist that demonstrated imprinting Conrad Lorenz and his geese Conrad Lorenz and his geese

Types of learning continued… Imitation – learning by observing others Imitation – learning by observing others –Ex. babies learning to speak

Associative Learning Associative Learning – An animal learns to associate a specific action with its consequences Associative Learning – An animal learns to associate a specific action with its consequences –Ex. Trial and error learning

Types of Associative Learning: 1. Classical Conditioning – animal learns to associate a previously neutral stimulus with a behavior that was once triggered by a different stimulus Ex. Pavlov’s Dogs

Pavlov’s dog in classical conditioning

Types of Associative Learning continued… 2. Operant Conditioning – positive or negative reinforcement increases or decreases a behavior Ex. “Skinner boxes” or electric fence for pets D-RS80DVvrg

/watch?v=Mt4N9GSBoMI Operant Conditioning: The Skinner Box

Benefits and Costs of Behavior BenefitsCosts - Survivorship - Reproduction (fitness) (fitness) - Energy Costs - Opportunity Costs - Risk Costs

Benefits Must Outweigh Costs Territoriality – control of a specific area by one or more species Territoriality – control of a specific area by one or more species Optimal Foraging Theory – natural selection should favor behaviors that get animals the most calories for the cost Optimal Foraging Theory – natural selection should favor behaviors that get animals the most calories for the cost

Social Behavior Some animals live in groups that have definite social structures. Some animals live in groups that have definite social structures.

Benefits of Social Behavior Improved foraging Improved foraging Members can help each other Members can help each other Reduces chance of predation Reduces chance of predation

Costs of Social Behavior Increased visibility to predators Increased visibility to predators Increased competition Increased competition Increased chance of spreading diseases or parasites Increased chance of spreading diseases or parasites

Social Behaviors Communication - visual, sound, touch chemical- pheromones Communication - visual, sound, touch chemical- pheromones Mate Selection – Courtship behaviors Mate Selection – Courtship behaviors Defense – aggressive actions for protection Defense – aggressive actions for protection

Courship Behaviors in Birds

Helpful Social Behaviors Cooperation Cooperation Reciprocity – I’ll help you if you will help me. Reciprocity – I’ll help you if you will help me. Altruism – animal reduces its own fitness to help others Altruism – animal reduces its own fitness to help others

Eusocial behavior – extreme altruism Eusocial species live in large groups Eusocial species live in large groups Most members are nonreproductive such as workers or soldiers Most members are nonreproductive such as workers or soldiers All offspring from one female (queen) All offspring from one female (queen) Most are haplodiploid – males are haploid, females diploid. Sons are from unfertilized eggs. Most are haplodiploid – males are haploid, females diploid. Sons are from unfertilized eggs.

Eusocial Ants

Social behavior in bees

Animal Cognition Cognition is the mental process of knowing through perception or reasoning. Cognition is the mental process of knowing through perception or reasoning. - Includes awareness and ability to judge -Solving complex problems -Perception -reasoning

Solving Problems Insight – ability to solve problems without repeated trial and error (ex. Monkey and bananas) Insight – ability to solve problems without repeated trial and error (ex. Monkey and bananas) Animals use tools (inanimate objects to help accomplish a task), shows they understand cause and effect Animals use tools (inanimate objects to help accomplish a task), shows they understand cause and effect

Intelligent? Large brains Large brains Live in complex social groups Live in complex social groups Cultural behavior – taught to next generation (not naturally selected) Cultural behavior – taught to next generation (not naturally selected)

Who’s the smartest? Parrots, dogs, dolphins, elephants, monkeys, octopus, pigs, squirrels, whales? Parrots, dogs, dolphins, elephants, monkeys, octopus, pigs, squirrels, whales?

Most intelligent animals topics/pet-entertainment/funny-pet- videos/smartest-animals.htm