Behavioral Biology Chapter 55

Behavioral Biology Behavior: –the way an animal responds to stimuli in its environment –2 components of behavior 1.Proximate causation: –“What” and “How” of behavior 2.Ultimate causation: –“Why” of behavior male songbird  what triggers singing?  how does he sing?  why does he sing? male songbird  what triggers singing?  how does he sing?  why does he sing?

–Determine how behavior influences reproductive success or survival Ex: defend territory or attract mate with song –Nature vs. Nurture Controversy Is behavior determined by individual’s genes or by learning and experience? NOT either/or, but BOTH with epigenetics! Behavioral Biology

Jim Allen and Jim Lewis Behavioral Biology

Innate behavior –instinctive, doesn’t require learning b/c nervous system paths are preset –Ex: Fixed Action Pattern (FAP) of egg retrieval in geese triggered by a sign stimulus

Do humans exhibit Fixed Action Patterns? Behavioral Biology Not specific (anything round will trigger the goose’s reaction) Once pattern begins, it goes to completion; even if the egg is removed

7 Behavioral Biology Supernormal Stimuli given a choice, animals respond to a larger stimuli over a normal size stimuli Ex: male stickleback fish will attack anything with a red underside, bigger the better Does lipstick create a supernormal sign stimulus in humans?

8 Learning Behavior Learning –altered behavior as a result of prev. exp. –NOT the same as maturation with social reinforcement (ex: baby walking) –3 categories:

1.Non associative learning –Doesn’t require an animal to form an association between 2 stimuli or btwn. a stim. and resp. Habituation –decrease in resp. to a sp. stimulus Imprinting –learning limited to a sp. time in an animal’s life –generally irreversible Learning Behavior

10 Goslings follow Konrad Lorenz as if he were their mother Learning Behavior

11 Instinct and learning interact as behavior develops –white-crowned sparrow males sing species-specific courtship song during mating –genetic template creates an innate program to learn the appropriate song –can’t learn the song unless they hear it at a critical period in development Learning Behavior

12 2.Associative learning –association btwn. 2 stimuli or a stim. and a resp. Learning Behavior

13 Learning Behavior predator-prey interactions (after being stung the toad learns not to eat bumblebees)

Two types (assoc. learning): 1)Classical conditioning –paired presentation of 2 diff. kinds of stimuli with an association formed between them –Ex: Pavlovian conditioning Unconditioned stimulus: Unconditioned response: Conditioned stimulus: Conditioned response: Learning Behavior

2)Operant conditioning –animal learns to associate its behavior resp. with a reward or punishment –Skinner’s trial and error learning –instinct guides learning by determining what type of info can be learned through conditioning Learning Behavior

16 Learning Behavior 3.Cognition –Ability to perceive, store, process and use info gathered by the senses Ex: chimps pull the leaves of off a tree branch to use it as a tool for picking termites; build towers to reach high objects

17 Animal Cognition tool use

18 Learning Behavior problem-solving

19 Learning Behavior problem-solving

Movement Behavior Orientation –goal-oriented movements track stim. in the env. using a homing instinct –several types: 1.Taxis –movement toward or away from a stimulus –cognitive maps (squirrels) –landmarks (wasps)

21 Movement Behavior

2.Kinesis –more or less active when stimulus intensity increases –ex: pillbug rxn to moisture, acidic env. and light

Movement Behavior 3.Migration –populations moving large distances Monarch butterflies from North America to Mexico

24 Migratory animals must be capable of navigation ability to set or adjust rel. loc. in space –sun and stars (gen. dir.) –Earth’s magnetic field (sp. path) –info from sun/stars overrides magnetic info if there’s conflict Movement Behavior

Communication –transmission of, reception of & resp. to a signal –occurs among members of the same species OR btwn. sp. –Stimulus-response chain behavior of one indiv. releases a behavior by another Ex: reproduction

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Communication CUMtZ-0http:// CUMtZ-0 dvMoUUAhttp:// dvMoUUA 27

Long-distance communication –Pheromones chemical messengers Ex: food source, sex attractant –Acoustic signals vocal calls (warnings), wing clicking –Light signals firefly Communication

29 Each number represents the flash pattern of a male of a different species Communication

Social Behavior Interaction btwn. 2 or more animals (usually of same sp.) 2 overriding types: 1.Agnostic behavior Contest w/ “winner” gaining access to a resource Often includes use of rituals

Social Behavior 1)Dominanace hierarchy –“pecking” order w/ an alpha 2)Territoriality 3)Courtship –male competition: reprod. success prop. to # of partners HZ95K_wQhttp:// HZ95K_wQ

The bigger, the “prettier, the healthier! Sexual Selection –female choice: reprod. success depends on vigor of offspring

Social Behavior –Ex. of relationships Promiscuous –No strong pair bonds Monogamous –One partner Polygamous –Many partners –Polygyny –Polyandry

Social Behavior 2.Altruistic behavior “unselfish” behavior that reduces indiv. fitness eEhttp:// eE 34