1. ADAM MEIGS Behavioral Ecology

2. Inheritance Influences Behavior Experiments with lovebirds, garter snakes, and other species of animals have indicated that some behaviors are inherited.

3. The Environment Influences Behavior Organisms modify their behaviors by learning. Ex: When a the red bill of a laughing gull is seen the chicks begin to beg for food. Organisms can learn through imprinting, social interaction, associative learning, migratory behavior, orientation, and cognitive learning.

4. Animal Communication Communication- an action by a sender that may influence the behavior of the receiver. Organisms communicate in using the senses: chemical (smell), auditory (hearing), visual (sight), and tactile (touch) communication.

5. Behaviors That Increase Fitness Behavioral Ecology believes that behavior is subject to natural selection. Traits that promote reproductive success are considered advantageous. Sexual Selection: a form of natural selection that selects traits that increases an animals fitness. (Males competing for females) Altruism: a behavior that has the potential to decrease the lifetime reproductive success of the altruist while benefiting the reproductive success of another member of the society.