Animal Behavior Behavior is what an animal does and how it does it.

Behavior Two Types of Questions Proximate: what triggers the behavior? Ultimate: Why was this behavior selected for over others? Influenced by both Genes Environment

What are the different types of Behaviors Instinct Imprinting Conditioning –Associative learning Classical & Operant Insight

1. Instinct A behavior that is innate, or inherited. Genetic Programming w/ influences Developmentally Fixed Kittiwake Gulls young born on cliff Young innately adverse to cliffs, stay away from edges……WHY? Those genetically not afraid fell off….eliminated from gene pool

Innate behavior Ethology: study of how animals perform these unique behaviors w/o seeing them done before? FAP (Fixed Action Pattern) Unchangeable behavior, carried to completion External sensory signal (sign stimulus) Triggers response Stickleback Fish FAP in Human Infant smile Infant grasping objects

Innate Behaviors can be tricked Mayflies lays eggs on water Tar Roads and black plastic reflect as water Mayflies lay eggs on these also

Learning Modification of behavior from specific experiences Innate behaviors improve w/ experience Young give indiscriminant alarms If false, no adult response If true, adult also gives alarm Accuracy improves with age

Maturation Behavior change b/c of developmental structures Baby birds restricted to NO use of wings (never flap when young) Still fly at appropriate age Neuromuscular skill development

2. Imprinting A form of learning that occurs during a “Sensitive period.” Usually irreversible Example – Salmon, Geese Ducklings “Sensitive Period”

Konrad Lorenz Conducted an experiment with geese that showed imprinting behaviors. He replaced the mother. Developed the concept of “sensitive period”

3. Classical Conditioning Associative learning occurs when an animal recognized that 2 or more events are connected.

Ivan Pavlov Using dogs demonstrated the phenomenon of conditioned reflex. Made his dog salivate by ringing a bell. First, gave dog food when bell rang. Second, rang bell no food.

Operant Conditioning Trial and error learning. Learn in order to receive a reward. Habituation is another form, occurs when an animal learns not to respond to a stimulus. Skinner Box

B.F.Skinner Introduced trial and error learning or operant conditioning. Placed mice in a “Skinner box” that had levers. Some levers lead to a reward. Mice learned to push these levers.

Insight Animal Cognition The highest form of learning. Usually by higher animals. The ability to figure out a behavior that generates a desired outcome. Reasoning

Cognitive Mechanisms Kinesis: change in activity, sow bugs activity change w/ humidity Taxis: Movement, orientation of trout upstream Landmarks (Tinbergen Exp) Cognitive Maps: Jays and cache location Migration Behavior Piloting Orientation Navigation

Social Behaviors Interactions Aggression Courtship Deception Sociobiology Evolutionary theory Social behavior Conflict and Competition

Agonistic Behavior Agonistic behavior is a contest involving threats. Submissive behavior. Ritual: the use of symbolic activity. Test of strength Generally, no harm is done. Reconciliation Behavior

Dominance Hierarchies Dominance hierarchies involve a ranking of individuals in a social group (a “pecking order”). Alpha, beta rankings exist. The alpha organisms control the behavior of others.

Territoriality Territoriality is behavior where an individual defends a particular area, called the territory. Territories are typically used for feeding, mating, and rearing young and are fixed in location.

Courtship Behavior that leads to copulation Establishes maturity readiness Establishes opposite sex Establishes health condition

Ways Animals Communicate Chemical Visual Auditory Tactile

Chemical Use pheromones to trigger a behavior. Releasers – immediate Moths use these to attract a mate. Ants mark trails Primer – physiological changes. Territorial uses – dogs, cats, mice, etc..

Visual Many visual displays are observed during acts of agonistic behaviors as well as courtship.

Auditory Use to communicate over long distances, through water and at night. Whales Elephants Frogs Birds

Tactile Touching promotes social bonding, infant care grooming and mating.

Altruistic Behavior Unselfish Behavior Altruism is defined as behavior that might decrease individual fitness, but increase the fitness of others.