Download Behavioral Ecology

Ecos= “the house”
-ology = study of
We will be looking at how
organisms interact
with their habitat
(organism ecology), with
other organisms
(community ecology), and
within their own
population (population
ecology).
Ecology
The study of animal behavior is one the oldest and most captivating fields of
study in biology.
Behavioral Ecology has taken on a more evolutionary view towards animal
behavior... Animal behavior is an adaptation that has been favored for survival
or reproduction means.
Behavior has its roots in both genetics and environmental cues, The foremost
scientists in this field (back then known as ethology) observed animals
exhibiting behaviors without ever having seen them…
Fixed Action Pattern
(FAP): innate,
highly stereotypical and
unchangeable behavior
that is carried out no
matter how useless it
may be. They are
initiated by a sign
stimuli
Behavioral Ecology
Learning is a basic concept in
the field of animal behavior. It
is the direct result of
experience.
Imprinting is learning, but it is
during a specific time period in an
animals life and it is irreversible
Habituation is a type of
learning that is similar to the
“cry-wolf” effect. Too much of a
good thing can be detrimental in
the long run…
Behavioral Ecology
Christian the Lion
Associative Learning: is a type of learning in which a stimulus is
linked to another through experience. There are two types of
associative learning:
1. Classical Conditioning- A stimulus will cause a response that
becomes habitual (Ivan Pavlov and his dogs in the 1920’s)
2. Operant Conditioning- an animal learns to associate one of its
behaviors with a reward or punishment and then repeats or avoids
that behavior (B.F. Skinner)
Behavioral Ecology
Animals use various cognitive mechanisms to avoid predators,
migrate to favorable environments, find mates or nest sites
Kinesis: change in an activity in
response to a stimulus
Taxis: movement away or
towards a stimulus
Migration Behavior: regular
movement over long periods of
time and at specific times of the
year
Some others include: Landmarks or Cognition Maps
Behavioral Ecology
Social Biology: how organisms interact with each other within a
population
Agnostic Behavior
Dominance Hierarchies
Territoriality
Courtship/Parental Investment
Mating Systems
Animal Signals
Pheromones
Altruism
Kin Selection
Social Behavior (Sociobiology)
Little
Albert
Goose Eggs
Applications of
Behavioral Ecology- (FAP)
ADVERTISING… give
me a break
Kiki's Tricks
Commercials
Classical Conditioning