ethology - Answers study of animal behavior
behavioral ecology - Answers the study of behavior that seeks to explain how specific behaviors increase
individual reproductive success
Kinds of animal behavior - Answers Instinct
Fixed Action Patterns
Imprinting
Associative Learning
Trial and error learning
Spatial learning
Habituation
Observational learning
Insight
Instinct - Answers behavior that is innate
Fixed Action Patterns - Answers innate behaviors that follow a regular unvarying pattern.
-initiated by a specific stimulus
-carried out to completion even if original intent of the behavior can no longer be fulfilled
ex-- the male stickleback fish attacks any object that has a red underside (territory)
Imprinting - Answers innate program for acquiring a specific behavior only if an appropriate stimulus is
experienced during a critical period
-irreversible
ex: goslings follow the first thing they see when they hatch
critical period - Answers limited time interval during the life of an animal. when imprinting can occur
associative learning - Answers occurs when an animal recognizes that two or more events are connected
-includes classical conditioning, operant conditioning, spatial learning
classical conditioning - Answers type of associative learning.
, -occurs when an animal performs a behavior in response to a substitute stimulus rather than the normal
stimulus
Trial and error learning - Answers also called operant conditioning.
-also a form of associative learning
-occurs when the animal connects its own behavior with a particular environmental response
*if desirable, animal does the same response
*if undesirable, animal avoids the same response
Spatial learning - Answers form of associative learning
occurs when an animal associates attributes of a location (by landmarks) with the rewards it gains by
being able to identify and return to that location
Habituation - Answers learned behavior that allows the animal to disregard meaningless stimuli
Observational learning - Answers occurs when animals copy the behavior of another animal without
having experienced any prior positive reinforcement with the behavior
Insight - Answers occurs when an animal that is exposed to a new situation and has no prior relevant
experience is able to perform a behavior that generates a desirable outcome.
maturation - Answers some behaviors that appear to be learned can actually be innate but require
maturation
ex: birds can only fly after they physically matured
What is the advantage of having innate behavior? - Answers increase individual fitness.
ex: FAP provides a successful and dependable mechanism for the animal to perform in response to an
event that through evolution has become expected.
What is the advantage of imprinting? - Answers provides flexibility
ex: if mother is killed before the chick hatches, the chick will imprint and choose a nearby bird for its
mother
What is the advantage of associative learning? - Answers allows individuals to benefit from exposure to
unexpected repeated events
is able to respond more efficiently
Advantage to observational learning and insight? - Answers provides a mechanism to learn new
behaviors in response to unexpected events without receiving reinforcement.