Animal Behavior
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Created by:
gabbyzeagler on May 2, 2012
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26 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Instinct | Behavior that is innate, or inherited |
| Fixed action patterns (FAP) | Innate behaviors that follow a regular, unvarying pattern. An FAP is initiated by a specific stimulus. Typically, the behavior is carried out to completion even if the original intent of the behavior can no longer be fulfilled. |
| Imprinting | An innate program for acquiring a specific behavior only if an appropriate stimulus is experienced during a critical period (a limited time interval during the life of the animal). Once acquire, the behavior is irreversible. |
| Associative learning | Occurs when an animal recognizes (learns) that tow or more vents are connected. A form of associative learning called classical conditioning occurs when an animal performs a behavior in response to a substitute stimulus rather than the normal stimulus. |
| Trial-and-error learning (operant conditioning) | Another form of associative learning. It occurs when an animal connects its own behavior with a particular environmental response. If the response if desirable, the animal will repeat the behavior. If the response is undesirable, the animal will avoid the behavior. |
| Spatial learning | Another form of associative learning. It occurs when an animal associates attributes of a location with the reward it gains by being able to identify and return to that location. |
| Habituation | A learned behavior that allows the animal to disregard meaningless stimuli. |
| Observational learning | Occurs when animals copy the behavior of another animal without having experienced any prior positive reinforcement with the behavior |
| Insight | Occurs when an animal, expose to a new situation and without any prior relevant experience, performs a behavior that generates a desirable outcome. |
| Kinesis | An undirected change in speed of an animal's movement in response to a stimulus. The animal slows down in a favorable environment or speeds up in an unfavorable environment. |
| Taxis | A directed movement in response to a stimulus. Movement is directed either toward or away from the stimulus. Movement toward light is called phototaxis. |
| Migration | The long-distance, seasonal movement of animals. It is usually in response to seasonal activity of food or degradation of environmental conditions (they usually occur together). |
| Pheromones | Chemicals used for communication |
| Releaser pheromones | Chemicals that cause immediate and specific behavioral changes |
| Primer pheromones | Those that cause physiological changes |
| Foraging Behaviors | Numerous techniques have evolved to optimize feeding. The goal is to maximize the amount of food eaten while minimizing the energy expended to obtain it and minimizing the risks of being injured or eaten. |
| Herds, flocks, and schools provide several advantages, as follows: | Concealment, vigilance, and defense |
| Packs enable... | members to corner and successfully attack large prey |
| Search images help animals... | find favored or plentiful food |
| Social Behavior | Agonistic behavior, dominance hierarchies, territoriality, and altrustic behavior |
| Agonistic Behavior | (aggression and submission) originated from competition for food, mates, or territory. Because most agonistic behavior is ritualized, injuries and time spent in contests are minimized. |
| Dominance Behavior | indicate power and status relationships between individuals in a group. Establish hierarchies minimize fighting for food and mates |
| Pecking Order | Is a more or less linear order of status often used to describe dominance hierarchies in chickens. |
| Territoriality | Is the active possession and defense of the territory in which an animal or group of animals (often related) lives. Territories insure their owners adequate food and a pace to mate and rear their young. |
| Altruistic Behavior | Seemingly unselfish behavior that appears to reduce the fitness of the individual. It commonly occurs when an animal risks its safety in defense of another or sacrifices its reproduction to help another individual (of the same species) rear its young. |
| Kin Selection | a form of natural selection that increases inclusive fitness |
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