Animal Behavior

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Animal Behavior

• Ch 33

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What is Animal Behavior?

• Behavior anything an animal does in response to
  a stimulus
• Stimulus anything that causes an animal to
  react to its presence with an inherited/innate or
  learned response

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How do genes control behavior?

• Genes (DNA) produce proteins
• Proteins make up structures of the body (organ
  systems) as well as hormones and enzymes which
  chemically effect the body
• Genes that help an organism respond to stimuli in
  successful manner are passed on through
  reproduction (fitness) those that dont die off
  with the organism extreme cases hence wide
  variation in behavior
• Human Ex Novelty Seeking Gene vs. Cautious
  Gene

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Inherited/Innate Behavior

• Genetically Programmed behavior
• Genetic make up may determine how an animal
  reacts to certain stimulus nature vs. nurture
• Natural Selection
• Automatic vs. Instinctive
• Automatic reflexes, fight or flight
• Instinctive complex patterns migration,
  courtship, territorialism, aggression,
  hierarchies, circadian rhythm, hibernation,
  estivation

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Learned Behavior

• Behavior changes through experience or practice
• More complex the brain, more complex the learning
• Anatomy of learning Cerebrum, Neurons (nerve
  cells) form connect with one another form
  wiring patterns which are like circuits to
  recalling the learned behavior is quicker

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Types of Learned Behavior

• Habituation stimulus loses effect
• Imprinting social connection to object/organism
• Trial and Error trying solutions until one
  works
• Conditioning association of one stimulus with
  another
• Pavlovs Dogs
• Insight most complex using previous
  experience to respond to a new experience
• Inquiry, explaining, application

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Classify the Behaviors Innate or Learned

• Nest building in birds
• Innate
• Patella reflex in humans
• Innate
• Territorialism in sharks
• Innate
• A chick recognizing its mother
• Learned
• Courtship ritual of peacocks
• Innate
• Chimpanzee using tools
• Learned
• Language
• Learned

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Communication

• Exchange of information that results in a change
  in behavior
• Can be auditory, visual, tactile or chemical
• Communication is interpreted by the brain to
  cause a behavioral change based on the prompt
• Ex mating call for reproduction, wobble dance
  for bees