Download Animal Behavior

Animal Behavior
An action or group of actions performed by an
animal in response to some stimulus
Innate Behavior
• The behavior is known from birth and does not have to be learned
• Also known as instincts
• Examples:
– Reflexes
– Eating
– Flight or Fight Response
* Circadian rhythm: based on the 24 hour cycle of the day; light regulated;
may determine when an animal sleeps and wakes
Learned Behavior
• Not known at birth, behavior changes as a result of
experience or practice
• Types: Habituation, Classical Conditioning, Operant
Conditioning, Insight
• Imprinting: forms a social attachment to another object Ex:
duckling following a mother duck
Habituation
• Simplest type of learning
• Animal stops responding to a stimulus to which it is
repeatedly exposed to
• Ignoring a stimulus
• Example: Students and third period bells
Classical Conditioning
• Animal makes a mental connection between a stimulus and
some kind of reward or punshiment
• Example: Cat and the sound of a can opener
Classical Condition (Pavlov’s
Dog)
Operant Conditioning
• Animal learns to repeat behaviors that result in reward and
avoid behaviors that result in punishment.
• Also known as trial and error
• Example: Good grades and performing well in school
Insight Learning
• Most complicated form of learning
• Occurs when an animal applies something it has already
learned to a new situation.
• Example: Applying what you learned in math to science class
Social Behavior
• Any behavior between members of same species
• Examples:
– Courtship: dating
– Dominance Hierarchy: Queen Bee
– Territorial: defends space, mate, or food
Migration, Estivation, and
Hibernation
• Migration- instinctive, seasonal movement of
animals Ex: birds migrate to south during winter
• Estivation- state of reduced metabolism that
occurs in animals living in conditions of intense
heat
• Hibernation- state in which the body
temperature drops substantially, oxygen levels
decrease, and breathing rates decline
Pheronomes
Chemical Comminucators
• chemicals emitted by living organisms to
send messages to individuals of the same
species.
• Communication between organisms
• Use sights, sounds, smells, and touches
• Ex: lion roars when in danger; dog barking
at an intruder