Behaviors
Essential Question
How can behavioral adaptations better ensure species survival?
Living Relationships: Behaviors
• Behavior: the way an organism reacts to
changes in its internal condition or external
environment; response to stimuli
• Innate behavior: inborn behavior; fully
functional the first time they are performed
• Instinct: natural inclination, can be a synonym for
innate behavior; ex. suckling of a newborn mammal
Living Relationships: Behavior
• Learned Behavior: behavior as a result of experience
• Ex. Primates using “tools”
Living Relationships: Behavior
• Why do you think self-preservation and species preservation are the
strongest instincts?
• survival and a will to live must come first to ensure that the species lives on!
• All basic needs must be met and take priority over other behaviors
Living Relationships: Behavior
COURTSHIP BEHAVIORS
FIGHT OR FLIGHT
• Strategies to attract a mate
• Response to stress; prepares
organism to react/retreat;
adrenaline
Living Relationships: Behavior
TERRITORIALITY
AGGRESSION
• Occupying and protecting a
specific area
• Threatening behavior to gain
control
Living Relationships: Behavior
DOMINANCE HIERARCHY
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
• Social structure ranking
individuals based on position in
group; pecking order
• Daily/nightly behavior patterns
Living Relationships: Behavior
MIGRATION
PARENTAL CARE
• Movement from place to place
• Caring for offspring: food,
shelter, nurturing, etc.
Living Relationships: Behavior
HIBERNATION
ESTIVATION
• Dormancy during winter;
conserves energy
• Reduced activity during summer;
avoid intense heat
Living Relationships: Behavior
PHEROMONES
SOUND SIGNALS
• Chemical signals for
communication
• Vocal signals for communication
Living Relationships: Behavior
LANGUAGE
IMPRINTING
• Complex! Combination of
sounds, symbols, or gestures
bases on rules for order and
meaning
• Innate + learned behavior!
• Young instinctually follow the
first object they see/smell
Living Relationships: Learned Behavior
INSIGHT LEARNING
HABITUATION
• Reasoning; applying knowledge
to new situations
• Decrease or stop a response to a
stimuli
Living Relationships: Learned Behavior
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Trail and Error
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
• Learning a behavior through
practice/repetition for
reward/punishment; training
• Mental connection between
stimulus and
reward/punishment
Taxes/kinesis
TAXES/TAXIS
KINESIS
• Movement in response to
stimulus
• Undirected movement
• Ex. Paramecium