Animal Behavior. Vocabulary- other stimuli. Vocabulary. Stimuli. Stimuli. Animal Behavior Vocabulary

Transcription

1 Animal Behavior Animal Behavior Vocabulary Ethology = study of animal behavior Behavior = action performed in response to stimulus Whale tail The things animals do. Vocabulary Stimulus = something that elicits a response Examples of stimuli? Sight Touch Smell Taste Sound Vocabulary- other stimuli Heat Light Chemicals Humidity Vibration Color Gravity Pressure Presence of another animal Others? Stimuli External Stimulus = something outside the animal e.g. sound, sight, smell, etc, presence of another animal Stimuli Internal Stimulus = something inside the animal e.g. hunger, fatigue, feeling cold, hormones 1

2 Vocabulary Anthropomorphism = attributing human emotions to animals We need to be careful about ascribing human emotions to animals 1. Foraging = feeding e.g. locate, obtain & consume food E.g. the animal is happy 2. Parental Care = ensuring survival of young e.g. carrying, nursing, cuddling, holding young 3. Courtship = attracting a mate e.g. courtship displays, bright feathers, songs, other vocalizations, head butting, fighting Courtship 4. Reproductive = e.g. mating, giving birth 2

3 5. Offensive/Defensive = aggression, submissive behavior, defense from aggressors e.g. hiding, fighting, escape, threatening 6. Territorial = protect a resource for exclusive use e.g. scenting / marking, birdsong, protection of mate / offspring, space, food or water source 7. Social = work to create alliances, help the group e.g. grooming, babysitting, defense of musk ox young, play, play fight 8. Migratory = movement to a more suitable environment as seasons change e.g. dry vs. rainy seasons, winter vs. summer range for browsers & birds e.g. salmon upriver to spawn, artic tern 1800 m from Arctic to Antarctic, 2x/year - Communication 9. Communication = signaling between one animal & another Greeting e.g. sniff, hug, kiss bite Aggression e. g. charge, bite, hit, fight, etc. Non-aggression e.g. patting, head butting, stroking Grooming (bonding, alliances, keeping clean) Group hunt ( e.g. hyenas, lions) 3

4 - Communication Vocalizations e.g. bark, growl, snort, howl, hoot, chirp, whinny, alarm sound, other language - Communication Non-verbal signaling e.g. body, head, ear, & / or tail position showing teeth, smiling, looking away, looking directly at, gesturing, thumping, beating chest, raising hackles or hood, drumming, tail slap, snort, scenting, pheromones, sign language Why Communicate? Defense (warn away) Alliance (get helper or mate) 10. Curiosity = investigating new stimulus in environment e.g. approach, sniff, chew, bite, mount Elicit play 11. Elimination = defecation, urination 12. Resting = apparent inaction e.g. lying down, sitting, basking, sleeping, loafing 4

5 Development 13. Play Purpose = training for life (defense, hunting, etc) 1. Natural Selection An animal that successfully completes a helpful behavior survives to pass on the behavior to offspring. Those whose genes fit the conditions survive. Development Development 2. Innate Behavior Appear in fully functional form when first performed E.g. Startle behavior purpose = self-preservation E.g. web building, suckling, bird begging, nest building, some bird song 3. Learning development of behaviors through experience determines final shape of innate behaviors 5 types of learning Types of Learning Imprinting 1. Imprinting (both innate & learned) occurs only during a critical time frame once learned, can t be changed (see Conrad Lorenz with ducklings) 5

6 Types of Learning 2. Habituation Animal learns to ignore frequent, harmless stimulus E.g. scarecrow, habituation to observer Types of Learning 3 Classical Conditioning Animal learns to associate unrelated response with a stimulus E.g. Pavlov s experiments bell ringing, food, salivation bell ringing, salivation (even if no food is given) + + Classical Conditioning E.g. 1. leash = going for a walk, excitement 2. sight of leash = excitement Types of Learning 4. Operant Conditioning Animal learns to behave in a certain way through repeated practice Trial & error learning animal tests conditions for desired response e.g. Skinner box Animal learns that a behavior gets a certain response e.g. rat presses lever, gets food 6

7 Types of Learning 5. Reasoning Analyze problem & devise solution using past experiences Most Dogs? E.g. No, can t unwind leash from tree Most Horses? No Can primates reason? Can primates reason? Primates? yes e.g. chimp, bananas, boxes Can primates reason? Can primates reason? e.g. Japanese macaques float grain in water 7

8 See Alex the Parrot Jack Hana Video African Gray Parrot 8