INNATE BEHAVIOR CH. 31

I. BEHAVIOR A. Define Behavior 1. Anything an animal does in response to a stimulus. a.Example: Heat stimulates a lizard to seek shade.

I. BEHAVIOR 1. Behavior is adapative a. Animals can modify their behavior in order to help them survive b. Ex: Mother gull incubates eggs while father gull hunts for the family food

II. INHERITED BEHAVIOR A. An animal’s genetic material (DNA) determines how it responds to different stimuli. 1. Inherited behavior evolves as a result of natural selection a. Animals with favorable traits survive and reproduce

II. INHERITED BEHAVIOR B. Innate Behavior- Inherited behavior of animals 1. Born with behavior 2. Ex: Frog has insect detectors. Whenever an insect is detected the frogs tongue is flipped out

II. INHERITED BEHAVIOR a. Fixed-action pattern- unchanged behavior that continues until completed

III. Automatic Responses A. Transparency/Paper Demo B. Reflex- Simple, automatic response to a stimulus that involves no conscious control 1. Simplest form of innate behavior 2. Protects against danger

III. Automatic Responses C. Fight-Or-Flight Response- A response that mobilizes the body for greater activity 1. Either fight or run from danger 2. Controlled by hormones causes heart rate to increase

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR 3. Ex: Hiding in the closet

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR A. Instinct- A complex pattern of innate behavior. 1. Begins with recognition of a stimulus and continues until all parts of the behavior have been performed

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR B. Courtship Behavior- Behavior of males and females before mating 1. Ensures reproduction and species survival 2. Ex 1: Fireflies have distinctive flashing patterns

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR B. Courtship Behavior- Behavior of males and females before mating 1. Ensures reproduction and species survival 2. Ex 1: Fireflies have distinctive flashing patterns

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR 3. Some courtship behaviors prevents the female from killing the male prior to mating a. Ex: Spiders give gifts for the female to eat while mating…pretty sneaky!!!

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR C. Territory- A physical space that an animal defends against members of the same species. 1. Reduces competition 2. Includes feeding area, breeding area & potential mates

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR 3. Pheromones- Chemicals that can be sensed and used to communicate between a species 1. Territories are often “marked” with pheromones in urine, glands, etc.

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR D. Aggressive Behavior- Behavior used to intimidate another animal of the same species 1. Used to protect young, food, territory, etc 2. Ex: Growling, bird calls, teeth, etc

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR 3. Sometimes leads to dominance hierarchies where social ranks are formed (pecking order). a. The ability to form hierarchies is innate, but the position is learned

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR E. Circadian Rhythm- 24 hour, light regulated, sleep/wake cycle 1. Keep you awake during the day and relaxed at night 2. Controlled by genes, but can be influenced by external influences

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR 3. Can also lead to migration. a. Instinctive, seasonal movement of animals

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR 4. Hibernation- The state in which body temp drops, oxygen consumption decreases and breathing slows a. Excess body fat fuels the animals body during this state

IV. INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR 5. Estivation- State of reduced metabolism during conditions of intense heat a. Desert animals estivate during drought b. Some animals estivate even when plenty of food and water are available

THEEND!