Animal behavior notes

HS Biology Animal Behavior Notes

1. Animal Behavior

2. Homeostasis Review

3. What is behavior? A response to a stimulus Stimulus – a signal

4. Why Behave? Behavior is adaptive , because it helps an organism survive and reproduce. Behavior maintains homeostasis, which helps the organisms support the conditions it needs to live.

5. Types of Stimuli Internal Stimuli Examples: Hunger signals a need for more energy and causes an animal to search for food Thirst signals a loss of internal fluid and causes an animal to look for water Pain warns an animal that some part of its body may be subject to injury and causes it to take some action to avoid injury External Stimuli Examples: The sound of a predator can cause an animal to hide or run away to avoid being caught The sight of potential mate can trigger courtship behaviors Changes in day length can trigger reproductive behaviors or migration

6. Specialized Cells (a.k.a. Receptors) Sensory cells detect: Light Sound Chemicals Activate the animal’s nervous system. May cause adrenaline release “Fight-or-Flight” Nervous System Muscles activated

7. Function of Behavior - Movement Kinesis Increase in random movement Lasts until a favorable environment is reached Taxis Movement in a specific direction Either toward or away from a specific stimulus

8. Behavior in Cycles Circadian Rhythm – daily pattern of activity Example : Sleep – daily activity over 24-hours Biological Clock – internal mechanism of activity patterns Example: Melatonin secretion by the brain that can detect light changes

9. Behavior in Cycles Hibernation – avoidance of cold winter temperatures Animals have: Decreased body temperature Decreased heart rate Decreased breathing rate Prepare by eating large amounts of fat for: Food source Insulation Light and temperature determine when an animal enters and exits hibernation

10. Behavior in Cycles Migration Set in motion by a variety of internal and external stimuli: Example: Birds Day length  controls hunger  gain weight  increased fat storage  fuels long distance migration

11. Types of Behaviors Innate Behavior A behavior with which the organism is born Learned Behavior A change in behavior due to experience

12. Innate vs Learned Behavior Innate Behaviors Learned Behaviors Inborn behavior Genetically Based Based on Experience Not modified by the individual Modified by the individual by trial and error Generally uniform Low variation in population High variation in population Unaffected by the environment Highly affected by the environment Beneficial behavior Survival and reproduction Capacity to learn may be product of natural selection

13. Innate vs Learned Behavior Innate Behavior Learned Behaviors Examples: Suckling in newborns Migration Hunting instincts Examples: Language acquisition Social Skills Domesticated behavior in pets Trained dolphins

14. Innate or Learned? Science Today: Facial Expressions | California Academy of Sciences

15. Innate or Learned? Chimpanzee Tool Use

16. Innate or Learned? Conversation with Koko

17. Types of Learned Behavior Habituation Observational Learning Conditioning Play Insight

18. Habituation Forming a habit Learning to get used to something after being exposed to it for a while Example: The habit of seeing a scarecrow in the exact same place in the garden every day causes birds to get used to, and basically ignore, the stimulus

19. Observational Learning learning by watching and copying the behavior of someone else

20. Conditioning A way to modify (train) an animal’s behavior in response to a certain stimuli Reward or punishment 2 types Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning

21. Classical Conditioning A process in which an animal learns to associate a previously neutral stimulus with a behavior once triggered by a different stimulus Pavlov’s Dog

22. Classical Conditioning

23. Operant Conditioning A process in which the likelihood of a specific behavior is increased by reinforcement

24. Operant Conditioning Rat Basketball at Wofford College

25. Operant Condtioning Big Bang Theory

26. Learn by Play Young mammals, including humans, like to play Play is one way they learn the skills that they will need as adults

27. Insight Learning learning from past experiences and reasoning Most complicated learning Dog Insight Learning Octopus Tool Use