Biology: The Study of Life
Animal Behavior Chapter 33
What is behavior? • Behavior – Anything an animal does in response to a stimulus • Lizard looking for shade in hot desert • Wolves marking trees and other landmarks • Birds migrating south for winter
Innate Behavior • Genetically programmed – Controlled by genes
• Certain triggers can be detected by: – Sight – Touch – Sound – Odor – etc.
Innate Behavior • Fixed-action pattern – Unchangeable behavior that is fully completed once it is initiated • Toad’s tongue flipping out to catch prey
• Automatic responses – Reflex • No conscious control
– Fight-or-flight response
Innate Behavior • Some behaviors are genetically selected natural selection – Behavior that helps an animal survive or reproduce is passed on to the next generation • Peacock with the best plumage gets the female
Innate Behavior • Instincitve behavior – Complex pattern • Animal first recognizes a stimulus • Behavior is continued until all parts have been completed – Greylag geese retrieves eggs that roll from nest
Innate Behavior – Courtship Behavior • Selection of a mate suing a certain behavior – Turkey strutting and showing plumage – Males presenting female with a “gift” – Female fireflies respond to flashing patterns of certain males
• Evolved through natural selection
Innate Behavior – Territoriality • Defending of a space from same or other species – Defending resources – Defending mates » Male stickleback
• Reduces competition – Improves chance of survival – Controls population growth
• Pheromones used to mark territory – Wolves urinating on landmarks
Innate Behavior – Male stickleback • Attacks anything with a red belly that enters its territory
Innate Behavior – Aggressive behavior • Intimidates another of the same species • Used to defend: – Young – Territory – Food resources
• Leads to submission of weaker individual – Dominance hierarchy – strongest to weakest » Wolves – alpha male » Chicken– pecking order
Instinctive Behavior – Internal and External cues • Animals respond to biological rhythms and internal cues – Circadian rhythm » 24-hour light regulated sleep/wake pattern Humans awake during daytime Owls being nocturnal
– Migration » Yearly or seasonal cycle Birds, Butterflies, Whales
– Hibernation » Conserves energy Bears
– Estivation » Reduced metabolism Desert animals
Learned Behavior • Learned behavior changes through practice or experience • The more complex the animal’s brain, the more elaborate the learned behavior may be
• More common in vertebrates
Learned Behavior • Habituation – Stimulus has no punishment or reward associated with it – Animal stops responding to the stimulus
• Imprinting – Social attachment is formed at a critical time of the animal’s life • Goslings imprint on mother – Ensures food and protection
Learned Behavior • Trial-and-error learning – Animal receives a reward for a particular response • Riding a bike • Building a nest • Training a dog
– Motivation • Satisfying a need, generally physical
Learned Behavior • Classical conditioning – Learning by association • Cat meowing at the sound of a can opener
Learned Behavior • Pavlov’s dog – The dog associated the ringing of bell with being fed
Learned Behavior • Insight – Use previous knowledge to respond to a new situation – Most complex type of behavior – Problem solving
Learned Behavior • The Role of Communication – Exchange information – Results in the change of behavior – Animals signal each other by: • Sounds, odors, sights, touches, etc. – Ants leave odor trails – Bird songs – Sea loin showing teeth
– Innate and learned – combined – Language • Symbols used to represent ideas
What is behavior? • Behavior – Anything an animal does in response to a stimulus • Lizard looking for shade in hot desert • Wolves marking trees and other landmarks • Birds migrating south for winter
Innate Behavior • Genetically programmed – Controlled by genes
• Certain triggers can be detected by: – Sight – Touch – Sound – Odor – etc.
Innate Behavior • Fixed-action pattern – Unchangeable behavior that is fully completed once it is initiated • Toad’s tongue flipping out to catch prey
• Automatic responses – Reflex • No conscious control
– Fight-or-flight response
Innate Behavior • Some behaviors are genetically selected natural selection – Behavior that helps an animal survive or reproduce is passed on to the next generation • Peacock with the best plumage gets the female
Innate Behavior • Instincitve behavior – Complex pattern • Animal first recognizes a stimulus • Behavior is continued until all parts have been completed – Greylag geese retrieves eggs that roll from nest
Innate Behavior – Courtship Behavior • Selection of a mate suing a certain behavior – Turkey strutting and showing plumage – Males presenting female with a “gift” – Female fireflies respond to flashing patterns of certain males
• Evolved through natural selection
Innate Behavior – Territoriality • Defending of a space from same or other species – Defending resources – Defending mates » Male stickleback
• Reduces competition – Improves chance of survival – Controls population growth
• Pheromones used to mark territory – Wolves urinating on landmarks
Innate Behavior – Male stickleback • Attacks anything with a red belly that enters its territory
Innate Behavior – Aggressive behavior • Intimidates another of the same species • Used to defend: – Young – Territory – Food resources
• Leads to submission of weaker individual – Dominance hierarchy – strongest to weakest » Wolves – alpha male » Chicken– pecking order
Instinctive Behavior – Internal and External cues • Animals respond to biological rhythms and internal cues – Circadian rhythm » 24-hour light regulated sleep/wake pattern Humans awake during daytime Owls being nocturnal
– Migration » Yearly or seasonal cycle Birds, Butterflies, Whales
– Hibernation » Conserves energy Bears
– Estivation » Reduced metabolism Desert animals
Learned Behavior • Learned behavior changes through practice or experience • The more complex the animal’s brain, the more elaborate the learned behavior may be
• More common in vertebrates
Learned Behavior • Habituation – Stimulus has no punishment or reward associated with it – Animal stops responding to the stimulus
• Imprinting – Social attachment is formed at a critical time of the animal’s life • Goslings imprint on mother – Ensures food and protection
Learned Behavior • Trial-and-error learning – Animal receives a reward for a particular response • Riding a bike • Building a nest • Training a dog
– Motivation • Satisfying a need, generally physical
Learned Behavior • Classical conditioning – Learning by association • Cat meowing at the sound of a can opener
Learned Behavior • Pavlov’s dog – The dog associated the ringing of bell with being fed
Learned Behavior • Insight – Use previous knowledge to respond to a new situation – Most complex type of behavior – Problem solving
Learned Behavior • The Role of Communication – Exchange information – Results in the change of behavior – Animals signal each other by: • Sounds, odors, sights, touches, etc. – Ants leave odor trails – Bird songs – Sea loin showing teeth
– Innate and learned – combined – Language • Symbols used to represent ideas
