Chapter 51: Behavioral Ecology

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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• what an animal does how it does it
• What is ethology?
• the study of behavior
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Proximate mechanistic what in the immediate
  environment led
• to the observed behavior?
• Ultimate why did natural selection favor this
  behavior?
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• - Niko Tinbergen 3-spined stickleback

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Figure 51.3 Sign stimuli in a classic fixed
action pattern
Fixed action pattern sequence of behavioral
acts that is unchangeable usually carried to
completion once started triggered by a sign
stimulus
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Figure 51.4 Proximate and ultimate perspectives
on aggressive behavior by male sticklebacks
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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• what an animal does how it does it
• What is ethology?
• the study of behavior
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Proximate mechanistic what in the immediate
  environment led
• to the observed behavior?
• Ultimate why did natural selection favor this
  behavior?
• Related question whats more important, nature
  or nurture?
• Both are equally important!!
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• Niko Tinbergen
• 3-spined stickleback - FAP
• Digger wasps visual cues for learning
• Learning modification of behavior based on
  experience

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Figure 51.14 Does a digger wasp use landmarks to
find her nest?
After the mother visited the nest and flew away,
Tinbergen moved the pinecones a few feet to one
side of the nest.
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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• what an animal does how it does it
• What is ethology?
• the study of behavior
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Proximate mechanistic what in the immediate
  environment led
• to the observed behavior?
• Ultimate why did natural selection favor this
  behavior?
• Related question whats more important, nature
  or nurture?
• Both are equally important!!
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• Niko Tinbergen
• 3-spined stickleback - FAP
• Digger wasps visual cues for learning
• Konrad Lorenz
• imprinting learning that is limited to a
  specific time period (early)
• is usually irreversible
• Critical period early learning time

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Figure 51.5 Proximate and ultimate perspectives
on imprinting in graylag geese
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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• what an animal does how it does it
• What is ethology?
• the study of behavior
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Proximate mechanistic what in the immediate
  environment led
• to the observed behavior?
• Ultimate why did natural selection favor this
  behavior?
• Related question whats more important, nature
  or nurture?
• Both are equally important!!
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• Niko Tinbergen
• 3-spined stickleback - FAP
• Digger wasps visual cues for learning
• Konrad Lorenz
• imprinting learning that is limited to a
  specific time period (early)
• is usually irreversible
• Karl von Frisch honeybee communication
• Round dance food close - lt50m

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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• What is ethology?
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• What is the difference between taxis kinesis?
• Taxis targeted movement toward () or away (-)
  from a stimulus
• Photo - light
• Chemo chemical
• Rheo river flow
• Kinesis generalized increase in activity
  termites

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Figure 51.7 A kinesis and a taxis
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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• What is ethology?
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• What is the difference between taxis kinesis?
• What is associative learning?
• ability of some animals to associate one stimulus
  with another
• Classical conditioning (learning)
• Associating an arbitrary stimulus with an
  involuntary response
• Pavlovs dogs
• Associated w/ INVOLUNTARY BEHAVIOR (ringing bell
  causes
• salivation)
• Operant conditioning (learning) trial error
• Associating a voluntary behavior with a
  consequence ( or -)
• BF Skinner Skinner box
• Associated w/ VOLUNTARY BEHAVIOR (pressing a
  green button to
• receive food pressing a red button to
  receive an electric shock)

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Figure 51.16 Operant conditioning
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Figure 51.17 Young chimpanzees learning to crack
oil palm nuts by observing older chimpanzees
practice
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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• What is ethology?
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• What is the difference between taxis kinesis?
• What is associative learning?
• What is play?
• Movements closely associated with goal-oriented
  behaviors
• Stalking, hunting, attacking, mating, etc
• What is agonistic behavior?
• Threatening aggressive behavior to avoid
  conflict where indvidiual
• gains access to food or a mate
• Determines the dominance hierarchy (pecking
  order)
• What is territoriality?
• Area that an animal defends so it can control
  food, water, mates, homes
• Mating behavior.

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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• What is ethology?
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• What is the difference between taxis kinesis?
• What is associative learning?
• What is play?
• What is agonistic behavior?
• What is territoriality?
• What is courtship?
• Series of behaviors to make sure animals are of
  the same species,
• opposite sex, in good physical condition
• Ritualistic behaviors, scents, songs, male
  fights
• Mating systems
• Promiscuous no strong pair-bonds or lasting
  relationships
• Monogamous 1 male 1 female
• Polygamous
• Polygyny 1 male (alpha) with several females
  (usual)
• Polyandry 1 female with several males (rare)

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Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology

• What is behavior?
• What is ethology?
• What is the difference between proximate
  ultimate questions?
• Lets consider 3 famous ethologists
• What is the difference between taxis kinesis?
• What is associative learning?
• What is play?
• What is agonistic behavior?
• What is territoriality?
• What is courtship?
• How do animals communicate?
• Visual colors, size, etc
• Auditory songs, grunts, etc
• Olfactory pheromones chemical odors used for
  mating
• 12. What is altruistic behavior?
• Sacrificing ones self to benefit the group
• Beldings ground squirrels
• Male drone bees sting die to protect hive
• Kin selection altruistic behavior that benefits
  ones relative