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