Introduction to Animal Behaviour

• What processes allow animals to sense their environment?

  All processes by which an animal senses
• What are the two types of environments animals sense?

  External and internal environments
• What are the three types of environments mentioned?

  Physical, biotic, and social
• What is the study of evolutionary basis for animal behaviour called?

  Behavioural ecology
• What are the two levels of behaviour in behavioural ecology?

  Ultimate and proximate behaviour
• What does ultimate behaviour refer to?

  Evolutionary behaviour
• What does proximate behaviour refer to?

  Physiological and developmental behaviour
• What is the integrative understanding of behaviour based on?

  Ultimate and proximate explanations
• What is the adaptive function in behavioural ecology?

  Ultimate evolutionary explanations
• What is ontogeny?

  Development from zygote to adult
• What is the debate regarding behaviour?

  Nature versus nurture
• What is an example of developmental learning?

  Critical period
• What is the significance of genes in behaviour?

  Determine timing of environmental impact
• What are innate responses also known as?

  Reflexes or instinctive behaviours
• What characterizes learned responses?

  Modified by experience
• How do innate and learned behaviours combine?

  Ensure adaptive behaviour
• What did Karl von Frisch study?

  Bee communication through dance
• What does the round dance indicate?

  Food is nearby, less than 100m
• What does the waggle dance communicate?

  Distance and direction of food source

  
• What are errors in the waggle dance?

  Vectorial error and angular variation

  
• What is the significance of the white-crowned sparrow's song?

  Ability to sing is innate, but learned

  
• What happens if a juvenile sparrow is isolated?

  Produces subsong, not adult song
• What is the Law of Effect?

  Desirable outcomes increase behaviour repetition
• What is an example of mostly learned behaviour?

  Blue jays and butterflies
• What are the two forms of animal movement?

  Kinesis and taxis
• What is kinesis?

  Non-directional movement in response to stimuli
• What is taxis?

  Directional orientation towards or away from stimuli
• What is required for navigation?

  Use of map and compass
• What are some cues used for navigation?

  Landscape, odour, magnetoreception, celestial cues
• What is migration in animals?

  Movement between habitats or spatial units
• What is circuit migration?

  Return to same locations annually
• What is an example of circuit migration?

  Demoiselle cranes and bar-headed geese
• What is the largest migration in terms of biomass?

  Great migration of wildebeest and zebras
• What is predation?

  Biological interaction between predator and prey
• What is anti-predator behaviour?

  Innate behaviour to avoid predators
• What is the optimal diet model?

  Strategy for animals that cannot escape easily
• What are antipredatory deimatic behaviours?

  Intimidating postures and actions against predators
• What are the benefits of living in groups?

  Reducing predation and facilitating interactions
• What is the selfish herd theory?

  Groups reduce individual predation risk
• What is sexual selection?

  Selection for traits that enhance mating success