Proximate vs ultimate causes of animal behavior

Two broad categories of behaviors are Proximate and Ultimate behaviour. The presentation gives a brief introduction on Proximate and Ultimate causes of behaviour

1. Dr. Surjya Kumar Saikia Department of Zoology Visva-Bharati Proximate vs. Ultimate Causes of Animal Behavior

2. Expected outcomes Able to understand proximate and ultimate causes of behavior Able to identify which behavior is proximate and which is ultimate

3. 1. Proximate vs. Ultimate Causes 2. Genetic Component + Environment Influence 3. Natural Selection favors behaviors that increase survival and reproductive success

4. It is very much essential to know the actual cause of the behavior…..

5. Looking for the cause…… Those that explore how the behavior contributes to survival and reproduction Two questions are common, Those that focus on the immediate stimulus and mechanism for the behavior

6. Ultimate, or “ why, ” questions about behavior Address the evolutionary significance of a behavior Proximate , or “ how, ” questions about behavior Focus on the environmental stimuli that trigger a behavior, Focus on the genetic, physiological, and anatomical mechanisms underlying a behavioral act

7. Example of Proximate stimuli Proximate causes External stimuli- changes in day length Internal stimuli - hormone levels

8. Example of Proximate stimuli

9. pikrepo Animals stay in herd is Ultimate cause of behavior

10. pixabay Bird migration is an example of Ultimate causes of behavior

11. Bird migration is an example of Ultimate causes of behavior

12. Example of Ultimate causes Birds that migrate have a selective advantage over non-migratory birds over time; and such migration could be due to long term climate changes, glaciation, diseases, taking advantage of food sources , mating etc.