Animal Behavior Midterm

Front 1

What do we need to remember when we study behavior?

Back 1

function
phylogeny
immediate causality
ontogeny

Front 2

Variation in Behavior is...?

Back 2

differences in the way that a behavior is expressed from one time to the next by a given individual

Front 3

intra-individual behavior

Back 3

how many dimensions for a given behavior

Front 4

Stimulus threshold

Back 4

the amount of stimulus used to cause a change in behavior

Front 5

what things can change at the individual level?

Back 5

Internal: aging, hunger, parasitism circadian timers, energy reserves, and reproductive status

Front 6

experimental studies

Back 6

reductionist approach - isolating certain variables - the best for cause and effect

Front 7

correlative studies

Back 7

the holistic approach - observing a key parameter and one or more variables.

Front 8

How can differences in behavior occur at the single gene level?

Back 8

- enzymes not functioning properly due to spatial abnormalities
- a receptor for a hormone or neurotransmitter has a different binding affinity because of some small biochemical change

Front 9

Explain transduction through a receptor (external)

Back 9

When a receptor picks up a stimulus, the nerve membrane is flooded with Na + ions b/c the membrane's permeability changes once stimulated. nerve membrane becomes positively charged.

Front 10

2 types of receptor systems

Back 10

broad-band
label lines- which are receptors devoted to single type of stimulus

Front 11

What is communication?

Back 11

imparting or transmitting information - requires a sender and a receiver
- production of a signal that alters or elicits the response patterns of another individual.
- transmitted info is the most proximate cause of behavior

Front 12

Benefits of signals

Back 12

reduction of the uncertainty in an environment

Front 13

Deliberate signaling

Back 13

when a behavior produces info for which the function is communication

Front 14

non-intentional signaling

Back 14

when the presence of an animal leaves detectable traces in the enviro.

Front 15

types of information

Back 15

mechanical
electrical
thermal
visual
chemical

Front 16

Stereotyped behavior

Back 16

instinct; innate, don't need fine tuning

Front 17

Heritability

Back 17

measure of behavior we seen in variation more strongly genetic

Front 18

Transduction

Back 18

change in energy from mechanical stimulus to electrical energy

Front 19

sufficient depolarization

Back 19

big enough change (to cause change in electrochemical gradient.

Front 20

Supernormal stimulus

Back 20

increases intensity of response

Front 21

Honest Signal

Back 21

A signal warning predators of an animals abilities or strength (eg. gazelle and stotting and sky lark bird with loud singing)

Front 22

Deceptive Signal

Back 22

a signal deceiving potential predators. Eg. Ringed plover faking a broken wing to conceal her eggs.

Front 23

Androsteinedione

Back 23

testosterone precursor which makes spotted hyena cubs especially agressive

Front 24

Fitness

Back 24

# of offspring produced over lifetime

Front 25

maladaptive

Back 25

offspring cannot reproduce

Front 26

Evolution

Back 26

the change in frequency in the variation over time. If conditions change, a different trait will thrive.
-only populations evolve

Front 27

Problems faced by all animals:

Back 27

parasites, locomotion, weather, predators, sex and offspring, food

Front 28

What can animals do to solve these problems

Back 28

physiology, anatomy and behavior

Front 29

What are the causes of behavior?

Back 29

Proximate: Inherited behavior through parents and sensory motor mechanisms
(the blueprint and the machine)
ultimate:developed a trait over time (evolved from ancestors) and selective processes shaping the trait over time (the origin and the process)