Behaviour & communication

• Interspecific communication: Communication between individuals of different species
• Intraspecific communication is the communication between with an species
• Polygamy- when animals more than one mate at a time e.g. lions & hyenas
• Monogamy- one mate during their lifetime e.g. crows & swans
• why do we study animal behaviour

  • improve captive animal management
  • manage animal populations
  • improve animal welfare
• how to improve captive animal management through

  • grouping
  • breeding
  • accommodation suitability
  • feeding
  • visitor satisfaction
• by understanding elements such as migration, breeding & social groups the population of animals can be managed
• what are the 3 sampling techniques?

  • focal sampling
  • behaviours sampling
  • scan sampling
• focal sampling - focusing on a specific animal for certain amount of time recording behaviours

  behavioural sampling - recording specific behavioural events e.g. record when grooming is seen

  scan sampling - behaviour of animals within a group recorded at set intervals
• in-situ?

  in the original place
• ex-situ?

  away from the original place
• adaptation- the process by which an organism changes to suit its environment
• physical adaptations - structural modification to part of the body
• behavioural adaptations - something an animal does in response to an external stimulus
• examples of physical adaptation

  • polar bear fur for insulation
  • camels hump for storage
  • giraffe's long neck
• examples of behavioural adaptations

  • migration
  • diurnality
  • nocturnality
  • urbanality
  • hibernation
• adaptation

  • process where an organism or species evolves traits that enhances survival & reproduction
• physical adaptation

  • camouflage - develops physical features to help blend into surroundings
  • sensory - sensors tailored to their needs e.g. enhanced night vision
• Social behaviour

  • Interactions that occur between 2 or more animals
• Courtship

  • Behaviour that is a result in mating & reproduction
• Territorial

  • Area to raise young
  • Little to no competition for food
  • Optimal distance from others
• Excessive inactivity

  • Abnormal state of inactivity is because of lack of response to environment stimulus
• Displacement behaviour

  • Animal is torn between 2 conflicting drives
• Stereotypical behaviour

  • Repetitive behaviour with no real function