Download Chapter 3bF

Biology 484 – Ethology
Chapter 3b – The Development of
Behavior: Genetic and
Environmental Factors
Spatial learning by chickadees
Spatial learning is learning about location
and position. In this study, the bird shows
it is able to display this learning by
searching far longer in sites where the bird
had stored food.
Differences within a species in learned behavior
The environment plays a
significant role in how well
learning occurs.
Here chickadees in the harsh
environment of Alaska show
better memory of where stored
food is located than do the same
species in Colorado.
Nests of Polistes paper wasps contain odors that adhere to the bodies of the wasps
The odor cues that
remain in the home next
of these wasps are
unique to other homes of
the same species. This
odor is recognized
because of the larvae
being closely associated
with the nest and walls.
These odor cues allow
nest mates to recognize
each other in adulthood.
Different wintering sites of blackcap warblers
Different populations of this bird
choose distinctly different wintering
sites.
Notice how SOME birds actually
winter in the location where others
exist in the summer.
Thought Question: How do you
explain these differences,
especially the OVERLAP of areas in
the SAME SPECIES?
These data show flight points that were observed in the birds from each
Summer locale. Notice the clustering of the directionality.
These data are not in the text, but show what is called “circular
orientation data” that is examined through the use of “Circular Statistics”
a special category of statistics.
When animals are collected and taken to a
different location, you see that each
population maintains a flight path that is
unique to its Summer group.
Funnel cage for recording the migratory orientation of captive birds
Here is an example
of an in-lab method
to study orientation
behavior. The same
sort of situation can
be used to study
ANY orienting
animal.
These type of data
require “Circular
Statistics” for
analysis.
Whole fields of study IN statistics
are devoted to analysis of
directionality. The cutting edge
nature of the statistical tools used
for analysis of orientation data,
makes it more challenging for
biologists who want to enter the
field of study.
Differences in the migratory behavior of two closely related birds
Black Redstarts begin to
display “migratory
restlessness” far later than
do Common Redstarts.
Whatever
environmental/genetic factor
that influenced onset of this
behavior has affected the
wintering site location for
each species.
Thought Question: Do the
data concerning the
hybrids suggest the
potential causes of this
behavior? Why or why
not?
To successfully study the data on the next slide, we need to first
look at the predicted and actual correlation of IQ for different
groups of humans.
Why do people differ in their test scores? (Part 1)
P – O = parent and offspring
MZ – identical twins
DZ – fraternal twins
Points to Ponder:
a)What do the data
comparing MZ groups
adopted apart and DZ groups
raised together suggest
about genes and the
environment?
b)What do the P-O data
comparing the together
group and the adopted apart
group suggest about genes
and the environment?
3.16 Why do people differ in their test scores? (Part 2)
These data for Spatial ability are
similar in TREND to that of
Verbal ability.
However, in examining the same
two groups as suggested on the
last slide…. What sorts of
hypotheses can you make
concerning genes and the
environment relative to verbal
and spatial ability?
What test(s) would you
recommend to further
understand these ideas?
The Fruit Fly
(Drosophila melanogaster)
This species is known as the common fruit fly (or
sometimes the vinegar fly).
Thanks to Charles W. Woodworth and Thomas Hunt
Morgan, this species is a model organism that is
widely used for biological research in studies of
genetics, physiology, and behavior.
Charles W. Woodworth (left) is credited with first breeding
Drosophila in quantity while he was at Harvard. Thomas Hunt
Morgan (right), in his biography says that Woodworth suggested
that Drosophila might be used for genetics work.
The six behaviors displayed (A
F) represent the sequence of mating
behaviors shown in Drosophila melanogaster. These behaviors are able
to be quantified in terms of occurrence, but also in terms of time intervals.
All of the
developmental stages
of Drosophila are
potential stages for the
observation of
behavior.
Fruit Fly Developmental Stages & Life Cycle
Figure 3.24 Genetic differences cause behavioral differences in fruit fly larvae (Part 1)
“Rover” and “sitter”
behaviors are displayed
by larvae of fruit flies.
Measurement is taken
as the larva moves
across an agar plate.
In the work displayed,
female sitters were
mated with male rovers.
Figure 3.24 Genetic differences cause behavioral differences in fruit fly larvae (Part 2)
In this example, we can see
when female sitters mate
with male rovers, the larvae
primarily show the rover
phenotype in the F1
generation, suggesting that
if a single allele drives this
rover behavior, the
inheritance is via autosomal
dominance.
Question to Ponder:
What alternative
explanations are there?
Fertilized
Eggs are Laid
in Culture
Media
Containing
Chemical
Being
Studied
A Female Fruit Fly
Carrying Fertilized Eggs
Rover/Sitter Tests
Larvae develop having
been exposed through
egg and larval stage
OR… WITH FURTHER MATURATION
Pupation Distance
Measures
Pupae develop having
been exposed through
egg, larval and pupal
stage
OR… WITH FURTHER MATURATION
Adult Behavior
Tests
Adults develop having
been exposed through
entire life
3.17 A single gene affects maternal behavior in laboratory mice
Gathering and crouching
behavior is a stereotypical
behavior seen in wild-type mice.
The genes believed responsible
for driving these behaviors are
the fosB genes.
Females who are “knockout”
mice for fosB genes do not
exhibit typical parental care
behaviors.
3.18 Social amnesia is related to the loss of a single gene
In this example, a gene referred to as Oxt is associated with
recognition behavior. In the study, the male that is a “knockout”
mouse for Oxt will not show a decline in “inspections” of a female
in his cage. The inspection rate of an Oxt intact mouse shows a
rapid decline across trials, suggesting recognition of the female.
3.20 A coastal Californian garter snake about to consume a banana slug
Could there
be a genetic
component to
food
choice….. In
Garter
Snakes?!?
3.21 Response of newborn, naive garter snakes to slug cubes
In the experiment shown,
the researchers obtained
newborn snakes (that had
never fed) from two
different regions and
compared their responses
to banana slugs.
Prey available for both
populations naturally
include tadpoles,
whereas slugs are
found only in the
coastal regions.
3.22 A tongue-flicking newborn garter snake senses odors from a cotton swab
The cotton dipped swab
has the odor of different
potential food items on it.
Steve Arnold did this
classic work examining the
level of interest the snakes
had in different food items.
3.27 Surrogate mothers used in social deprivation experiments
Classic work in the 1960s examined
social deprivation in primates. In these
studies, newborn rhesus monkeys were
separated from their biological mother
and only allowed to interact with an
artificial “surrogate” mother mannequin.
We shall see in a future video the
dramatic effects of this isolation had on
the monkey’s behaviors.
3.28 Socially isolated rhesus infants
The crouched, scared body
posture and poor interactive
abilities displayed by these
two rhesus monkeys helps
to define the major effects of
early social deprivation.
The monkey’s would
respond in terror to very
small noises or stimuli and
would tend to not interact
with “normally” behaving
rhesus monkeys. Instead,
these monkeys would tend
to sit in one position and
would show classic “rocking”
behavior.
3.29 Developmental homeostasis in humans (Part 1)
In the graph below, we are seeing the rates of mental retardation in a study
of male offspring born of mothers in two populations in WWII Europe. The
red line indicates populations who had food restriction, whereas the black
line is the population that had no food restriction. Results are statistically
non-significant and show that the mother’s internal physiology can
compensate for some stressors.
3.29 Developmental homeostasis in humans (Part 2)
Part A (the previous graph showed mental retardation rates, but
the graph below (B) looks at the IQ scores of these offspring
(Note: manual and nonmanual refer to the occupation of the father
of the offspring in both graphs.)
3.30 Facial symmetry and attractiveness
Humans have a tendency to view
symmetry in a characteristic to be
more attractive than less symmetry.
Here, we have computer enhanced
images of symmetry. The perfect
symmetry column was significantly
preferred over the normal or high
symmetry columns.
Dr. Clark has studied the wolf spider and
how it will create visual communication
displays.
David Clark – Alma College
3.31 Testing mate choice in a female wolf spider
One of his designs
has been to use
video footage of a
competitor spider
showing different
behaviors and
observe the
displays the test
subject makes in
response.
3.32 Developmental switch mechanisms can produce polyphenisms within the same species
Polyphenism – more than
one distinctive, alternative
phenotypes in an organism
based upon specific
environmental pressures.
D = ant/bee caste development
E = cichlid (territorial/non-territorial)
F = aphid soldier caste
3.34 Activity of the gene that codes for gonadotropin-releasing hormone in Haplochromis burtoni
In the cichlid example, we see that there are statistically
signficiant differences in GnRH secretion displayed in
the two groups within 7 days following change in status.
The change in
status gradually
reshapes the
genes producing
this hormone in
the brain that
affect the gonads
and testosterone
production.
3.38 Sex differences in spatial learning ability are linked to home range size
Spatial learning differences are
apparent in the Meadow Vole
based upon sex. However, no
such difference is seen in the
Prairie Vole.
The difference relates to the
mating strategy of each sex.
Polygynous male Meadow
Voles tended to display much
larger territories in the wild
than either female Meadow
Voles or either sex of Prairie
Voles.
Points to Ponder…. How
may these results relate to
YOUR mouse learning
study? Might this article be
valuable to cite?
3.39 A virtual maze used for computer-based studies of navigational skills
Virtual Mazes for
human studies can find
interesting results as
well.
3.40 Sex differences in the hippocampus
Spatial Learning is
primarily an aspect that is
related to the size of the
hippocampus of the brain.
In the female BrownHeaded Cowbird, the
greater spatial ability is
associated with her sneak
egg laying behavior in the
nests of other bird species.
3.41 Operant conditioning exhibited by a rat in a Skinner box
Operant conditioning – a behavioral situation where an animal will associate a
volutary action it does with some form of consequence…. the response can be
postive, negative or neutral.
Thought Question…. What would be some potential variations seen in
Operant Conditioning Responses depending upon the stimuli effect?
3.44 Vampire bats cannot form learned taste aversions
In this experiment, it
appears the vampire bat
CANNOT learn taste
aversions. Note how the
other species CAN quickly
show this form of operant
conditioning.
Question…..Why might
this NOT be possible in
the vampire bat?