Behavioral Ecology
Animal Behavior
Behavior - any action that can be observed and described.
Ethology - the scientific study of animal behavior
Nature vs. Nuture: Genetic Influences
Studies of animal behavior often focuses on what behaviors are genetically based and what is
learned (Nature vs. Nurture)
Examples: Lovebirds, garter snakes, twin studies in humans (showed genetic basis for many
behaviors)
Nature vs Nutures: Environmental Influences
Learning - change in behavior as a result of experience
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Imprinting
Classical Conditioning (Pavlov's Dogs)
Operant Conditioning (Skinner Box)
Adaptive Mating Behavior
Sexual Selection - type of evolutionary selection that increases an animal's ability to mate and
produce offspring
Female Choice - females invest more in the offspring; they tend to be choosier about their mates; this
influences male behavior and evolution
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Good Genes Hypothesis - females choose mates based on traits that improve chance of
survival
Runaway Hypothesis - as a result of female choice, traits in males become exaggerated
(peacock feathers)
Male competition - males will compete for access to females, leads to dominance hierarchies
and territoriality
Sociobiology and Animal Behavior (studies social behavior in animals)
Altruism vs Self Interest - altruism has the potential to decrease lifetime reproductive success of an
individual, but benefits the success of family members (army ants, honeybees, wolf packs) - kin
selection & inclusive fitness
Reciprocal Altruism - offspring or close relatives help each other raise offspring
Animal Communication
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Chemical (pheremones)
Auditory
Visual
Tactile (touch)