Dat Biology- Animal Behavior

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Fixed action patterns

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Innate behaviors that follow a regular, unvarying pattern. An FAP is initiated by specific stimuli. Typically, the behavior is carried out to completion even if the original intent of the behavior can no longer be fulfilled. Ex: Male fish that defend against other males use their red belly as as sign, but anything red initiates the response.

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Imprinting

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Innate program for acquiring a specific behavior only if an appropriate stimulus is experienced during a critical period.

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Associative learning

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Occurs when an animal recognizes that two or more events are connected. Classical conditioning is a form of associative learning.

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Trial-and-error learning

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(Operant conditioning) is another form of associative learning and occurs when an animal connects its own behavior with a particular environmental response. If the response is desirable, the animal will repeat the behavior.

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Spatial learning

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Another form of associative learning that occurs when an animal associates attributes of a location with the rewards and gains of being able to identify and return to that location.

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Habituation

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A learned behavior that allows animals to disregard meaningless stimuli.

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Observational learning

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Occurs when an animal copies the behavior of another animal without having experienced any prior positive reinforcement.

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Insight

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Occurs when an animal, exposed to a new situation and without any prior experience, performs a behavior that generates a desirable outcome.

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Kinesis

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The undirected change in speed of an animal's movement in response to a stimulus

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Taxis

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A directed movement in response to stimulus- either toward or away from the stimulus.

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Migration

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Long-distance, seasonal movement of animals.

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Chemical communication

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Pheromones (releaser pheromones, trigger specific behavioral changes, and primer pheromones, cause physiological changes).

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Agonistic behavior

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Aggression and submission; results from competition for food, mates, or territory. Because most agonistic behavior is ritualized, injuries and time spent in contests is minimized.

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Dominance hierarchies

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Indicate power and status relationships between individuals in a group

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Altruistic behavior

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Seemingly unselfish behavior that appears to reduce the fitness of the individual. It commonly occurs when an animal risks its safety in defense of another or helps another rear its young.