Animal Behavior All things an animal does And How it does them

Behavioral Causes 1 1) Proximate causes : 1) Proximate causes : environmental stimuli environmental stimuli genetic triggers genetic triggers physiological, anatomical mechanisms physiological, anatomical mechanisms Proximate questions = How questions, Proximate questions = How questions, how does day length influence breeding? how does day length influence breeding? longer day triggers hormonal changes longer day triggers hormonal changes

Behavioral Causes 2 1) Ultimate causes : 1) Ultimate causes : evolutionary significance evolutionary significance origin of behavior origin of behavior Selective pressures? Selective pressures? Ultimate questions = Why questions Ultimate questions = Why questions Why did natural selection favor this behavior? Why did natural selection favor this behavior? Does spring breeding improve fitness? Does spring breeding improve fitness?

Ethology Branch of Behavioral Biology asks 4 questions Branch of Behavioral Biology asks 4 questions 1) What is the mechanism? 1) What is the mechanism? chemical, anatomical, physiological chemical, anatomical, physiological 2) How does development influence behavior? 2) How does development influence behavior? zygote to adult zygote to adult 3) What is the behavior’s evolutionary history? 3) What is the behavior’s evolutionary history? 4) How does the behavior improve fitness? 4) How does the behavior improve fitness?

A) Genetic behaviors Fixed Action Patterns Fixed Action Patterns Reflexes (instinct) Reflexes (instinct) Imprinting Imprinting Ex garter snake feeding preference Ex garter snake feeding preference

Fixed action pattern (FAP) Sequence of inherited behavioral acts Sequence of inherited behavioral acts Once triggered by stimulus is carried to completion Once triggered by stimulus is carried to completion Not learned Not learned

FAP example 3-spined stickleback Male sticklebacks attack anything red Male sticklebacks attack anything red proximal cause: red proximal cause: red ultimate cause: attacking red bellied males increases # eggs a male gets to fertilize ultimate cause: attacking red bellied males increases # eggs a male gets to fertilize

prehensive reflex of new-borns, who firmly hold any object. Infants apply more strength if they touch hair. This primate FAP appeared by evolution, so that infants can hold to the mother's hair prehensive reflex of new-borns, who firmly hold any object. Infants apply more strength if they touch hair. This primate FAP appeared by evolution, so that infants can hold to the mother's hair

Imprinting Imprinting Involves both learned and innate behaviors Involves both learned and innate behaviors Sensitive period – limited phase in development when imprinting can happen Sensitive period – limited phase in development when imprinting can happen Adults imprint on young & will feed them-gulls Adults imprint on young & will feed them-gulls Young imprint on adult & will follow them-duck Young imprint on adult & will follow them-duck Imprinting stimulus – what they imprint on Imprinting stimulus – what they imprint on

Lorenz Goose Imprinting stimulus = motion Goose Imprinting stimulus = motion Offspring do not automatically recognize mother goose Offspring do not automatically recognize mother goose Proximate cause – during sensitive period baby observed mother moving away Proximate cause – during sensitive period baby observed mother moving away Ultimate cause – babies who follow are protected = better fitness Ultimate cause – babies who follow are protected = better fitness

Innate Behavior Developmentally fixed Developmentally fixed Nearly all individuals exhibit same behavior Nearly all individuals exhibit same behavior Changes in environment make no difference Changes in environment make no difference Strong genetic control of behavior Strong genetic control of behavior Called directed movements because they are directed by genetics Called directed movements because they are directed by genetics

Examples of innate behaviors (directed movements) Kinesis – change in activity rate in response to a stimulus. Kinesis – change in activity rate in response to a stimulus. example More active in light area, less active in dark area. example More active in light area, less active in dark area. Taxis – oriented movement toward or away from stimulus Taxis – oriented movement toward or away from stimulus Migration – to migrate or not to migrate Migration – to migrate or not to migrate

Genetic reproductive behavior Monogamy 3% of all mammals Monogamy 3% of all mammals Monogamous vole males care for young Monogamous vole males care for young AVP neurotransmitter released at mating encourages pair bonding & defending young AVP neurotransmitter released at mating encourages pair bonding & defending young Most birds monogamous Most birds monogamous & male cares for young

B. Environmentally Influenced Behavior Learning: the modification of behavior based on experience Learning: the modification of behavior based on experience Habituation: loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no information Habituation: loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no information Spatial learning: learn location of nest sites, food, water Spatial learning: learn location of nest sites, food, water Associative learning: bite bad tasting orange butterfly learn to avoid bright colors Associative learning: bite bad tasting orange butterfly learn to avoid bright colors

Conditioned Learning Classical conditioning: arbitrary stimulus is associated with reward Classical conditioning: arbitrary stimulus is associated with reward Operant conditioning: trial & error learning Operant conditioning: trial & error learning animal learns to associate one of its own behaviors with reward or punishment animal learns to associate one of its own behaviors with reward or punishment

Social Learning Learn from observing others Learn from observing others Roots of culture Roots of culture Culture=system of info. transfer through teaching. Culture=system of info. transfer through teaching.

Cognition & problem solving Cognition – ability of animal’s nervous system to perceive, store & process info. Cognition – ability of animal’s nervous system to perceive, store & process info. Cognitive ethology – study connection between animals nervous system and its behavior Cognitive ethology – study connection between animals nervous system and its behavior

C. Communication Signal = a behavior that causes a change in another animal’s behavior Signal = a behavior that causes a change in another animal’s behavior Communication = transmission, reception & response to a signal Communication = transmission, reception & response to a signal Some features genetic others environmental Some features genetic others environmental

Communication types Communication types Chemical communication – pheromones Chemical communication – pheromones Auditory communication – song Auditory communication – song Posture communication Posture communication Can be learned (full bird song) or inherited (pheromones) Can be learned (full bird song) or inherited (pheromones)

Communication Composite signals – displays Composite signals – displays threat display, mating display tactile display

Types of behavior 1) adaptive behavior – improves fitness 1) adaptive behavior – improves fitness 2) social behavior – intraspecific interactions 2) social behavior – intraspecific interactions 3) selfish behavior – only helps own offspring 3) selfish behavior – only helps own offspring 4) altruistic behavior – apparently self- sacrificing behavior…helps others in population 4) altruistic behavior – apparently self- sacrificing behavior…helps others in population

Adaptive: keeps mites away Ultimate cause Ultimate cause

Social behavior Cooperative predator avoidance Cooperative predator avoidance Cooperative hunting Cooperative hunting Eusocial – true social = Eusocial – true social = together for generations together for generations division of labor division of labor permenantly sterile workers permenantly sterile workers

Altruistic Behavior Lowers individual fitness but Lowers individual fitness but increases fitness of others in pop. increases fitness of others in pop. a. ground squirrel alarm call ↑ mortality a. ground squirrel alarm call ↑ mortality b. worker bee sting intruders b. worker bee sting intruders c. mole rats defend colony c. mole rats defend colony Inclusive fitness: if close relatives Inclusive fitness: if close relatives survive then ½ of your genes are passed on vs no chance of own offspring surviving alone

Kin selection Natural selection that favors altruistic behavior by increasing fitness of relatives Natural selection that favors altruistic behavior by increasing fitness of relatives Hamilton’s rule – predicts when nat sel favors altruism. Based on benefit to recipient, cost to altruist and coefficient of relatedness. Hamilton’s rule – predicts when nat sel favors altruism. Based on benefit to recipient, cost to altruist and coefficient of relatedness. Female ground squirrels Female ground squirrels Settle close to home, only Females give alarm

Reciprocal altruism Help others who will later help you Help others who will later help you 2 individuals not related genetically 2 individuals not related genetically Only found in social animals Only found in social animals