Animal Behavior

Behavior

• The way an organism interacts with other organisms and its environment

• Stimulus- anything in the environment that causes a reaction

Innate Behavior

• A behavior an animal is born with• Reflex- automatic response that does not

involve a message from the brain• Instinct- complex pattern of innate behavior

Learned Behavior

• Develops during an animal’s lifetime as a result of experience or practice

• In changing environments, animals that have the ability to learn a new behavior are more likely to survive

• Learning can modify instincts• Imprinting- when an animal forms a social attachment to

other organism after birth or hatching• Conditioning- behavior is modified so that a response to

one stimulus becomes associated with a different stimulus• Insight- allows animals to use past experiences to solve

new problems

Social behavior

• Interactions among organisms of the same species– Courting, mating, caring for young, claiming

territories• Society- a group of animals of the same

species living and working together in an organized way

Territorial Behavior

• Territory- an area that an animal defends from other members of the same species– Contain food, shelter, and potential mates

• Aggression- forceful behavior used to dominate or control another animal

• Submission- animals might show submissive behavior or avoid being injured or to show other animal its dominant

• Defending territory is an instinctive behavior

Communication

• Action by a sender that influences the behavior of a reciever

• Courtship behavior- performed before mating• Pheromones- chemicals produced by one animal that

influences the behavior of another animal of the same species

• Sound communication used by insects/vertebrates• Light communication– Flies, marine animals, beetles use bioluminescence

• Used to lure prey, escape predators, locate mate

Cyclic Behavior

• Innate behavior that occurs in a repeating pattern

• Circadian rhythm- behavior based on 24 hour cycle– Diurnal- animals active during day– Nocturnal- animals active at night– Crepuscular- animals active at dawn and dusk

Hibernation

• Cyclic response to cold temperatures and limited food supplies

• Body temperature and breathing rate drop• Some mammals and many

amphibians/reptiles do it

Estivation

• State of reduced activity similar to hibernation• Desert animals estivate due to lack of food or

periods of drought

Migration

• Instinctive seasonal movement of animals– Move to new locations when seasons change– Do so in order to find food or reproduce in an

environment that is more favorable for survival of offspring