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biology 197 section 3
section 3 lecture 4
44
Biology
Undergraduate 2
03/29/2012

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Term
Conditioned reflex
Definition
learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (e.g., Pavlov’s dogs)
Term
Operant conditioning
Definition
use of consequences to modify the occurrence and form of a behavior
Term
Fixed action pattern
Definition
a genetically determined behavior (e.g., web spinning spiders)
- performed without learning
- stereotypic – performed the same way
each time
- cannot be modified by learning
Term
Ethology
Definition
the study of behavior from an evolutionary perspective
Term
Deprivation experiments
Definition
animals raised in an environment without the ability to learn a behavior from conspecifics
Term
Releasers
Definition
specific stimuli that are subsets of environment that determine behaviors
Term
Proximate causes
Definition
the immediate genetic,
physiological, neurological, and developmental mechanisms
Term
Causation
Definition
what is the stimulus for the behavior,
and has the behavior been modified through
learning?
Term
Development
Definition
asks:how does behavior change with age, and what experiences are necessary for it to be displayed?
Term
Ultimate causes
Definition
evolutionary processes that produced the capacity and tendency to behave in certain ways
Term
Function
Definition
asks:how does the behavior affect survival
and reproduction (fitness)?
Term
Evolution
Definition
asks:how does behavior compare with
similar species and how might it have evolved?
Term
How do we determine the way genes influence behavior?
Definition
Breeding experiments
Knockout experiments
Gene cascades
Term
Can test if a specific behavior is genetically determined
Definition
Once an individual with an unusual behavior is identified, researchers perform genetic crosses between that individual and a “normal” individual.
If Mendelian ratios are observed in the progeny,then the behavior is likely controlled by a small number of genes
Term
Knockout Experiments
Definition
reveal the roles of specific genes
Term
how are knockout experiments done?
Definition
Researchers block the expression of specific genes then watch for changes in behavior.If behavior is altered by “knocking out” the gene,then that gene is responsible for the behavior (at least in part)
Term
how do Hormones play a role in the development of behavior
Definition
Exposure to certain hormones (e.g.,testosterone) early in life can determine expression of behavior at a later age
Term
Imprinting
Definition
phase sensitive learning
Term
Critical period
Definition
limited amount of time during which imprinting occurs
Term
Some behaviors result from what?
Definition
combination of genetics, imprinting, and hormonal timing.
Term
what is an example of Animal Behavior
Definition
Bird songs – male birds learn songs soon after hatching, but do not sing them until reaching sexual maturity
Term
what is an animal's behavior a result of?
Definition
a series of choices made throughout its lifetime such as
-Finding appropriate habitat
-Finding conspecifics indicates suitable habitat,and provides mating opportunities
Term
Trade-offs of behavioral choices?
Definition
-Time and energy are limited
-Animals must often choose one activity over another
-Animals cannot afford to engage in behaviors that cost more than the benefits they provide
Term
Energy cost
Definition
the difference between performing
and not performing a certain behavior
Term
Risk cost
Definition
the increased chance of being injured or
killed as a result of performing a behavior
Term
Opportunity cost
Definition
the benefit the animal forgoes by
not performing other behaviors during the same time period
Term
Territorial behavior
Definition
Territories attract mates (pay-off)
Time spent defending territories has costs
- cost of patrolling the territories (energetic cost)
- cost of reduced foraging (opportunity cost)
- cost of higher predation (risk cost)
Term
Leks
Definition
extreme form of territorial behavior
-Males defend prime locations within a given area (cost)
-Females choose males to mate with based on the territory they control (pay-off)
-Benefit to females is their offspring receive genes that make them strong competitors
Term
Optimal foraging theory
Definition
organisms forage in such a way as to maximize their energy intake per unit time
-Food items are selected based on energy content,handling time, ease of finding, and nutritional content
Term
what does Biological rhythms coordinate behavior with?
Definition
environmental factors such as
Circadian rhythms:daily cycles of activities
- timing of eating, drinking, sleeping, etc.
Circannual rhythms – cycles of growth or activity that occur on an annual basis
- hibernation, migration, etc.
Term
Piloting
Definition
orientation using landmarks
Term
Homing
Definition
returning to a specific location
- chemical signals, magnetic fields, etc.
- philopatry, fidelity
Term
communication
Definition
The way by which individuals exchange information with each other such as
Chemical signals
Visual signals
Acoustic signals
Mechanosensory signals
Combinations of the above
Term
Monogamy
Definition
male mate with one female
Term
Polygyny
Definition
males mate with more than one female
Term
Polyandry
Definition
females mate with more than one
male
Term
Altruism
Definition
behavior by an individual that benefits
another individual while decreasing the fitness of the actor
Term
Inclusive fitness
Definition
combined fitness from survival of an individual’s own offspring and that of its close relatives
Term
Kin selection
Definition
a phenomenon of inclusive fitness
used to explain altruistic behavior between related individuals
Term
Eusociality
Definition
social organization of some animals
that represents the most extreme form of kin selection
Term
Eusocial animals (e.g., ants, bees, wasps) often have what?
Definition
many non-reproductive individuals
Term
Non-reproductive individuals help reproductive relatives survive to maturity. what does this do?
Definition
ensures contribution of their genes to the next generation
Term
Costs of group living?
Definition
competition from conspecifics for mates,
food, etc.; large groups may attract predators; increased disease transmission
Term
Benefits of group living
Definition
more efficient foraging; lower
individualistic probability of predation; alarm calling
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