Ch 53
key/sign stimulus
A cue or signal in the environment that initiates neural events that cause behavior
sexual selection
A form of natural selection in which individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates
migration
A movement from one country or region to another
Pavlovian conditioning
A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus acquires the ability to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus (dogs salivating at bell)
sexual dimorphism
Differences in physical characteristics between males and females of the same species
altruism
Self-sacrifice for the benefit of others; in formal terms, the behavior that increases the fitness of the recipient, while reducing the fitness of the altruistic individual.
optimal foraging theory
The basis for analyzing behavior as a compromise of feeding costs versus feeding benefits
ultimate causation
The evolutionary explanation of "why" a behavior (or other aspect of an organism's biology) occurs
filial imprinting
The recognition, response, and attachment of young to a particular adult or object. Usually irreversible. Ducks and geese can imprint on humans (whatever they see first)
Fixed action pattern
a neural circuit involved in the perception of the key stimulus and the triggering of a motor program
cost-benefit analysis
a study that compares the costs and benefits to society of providing a public good
operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher (positive or negative consquences)
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
brood parasites
an animal that exploits the parental care of individuals other than its parents
inclusive fitness
an explanation for altruism that focuses on the adaptive benefit of transmitting genes, such as through kin selection, rather than focusing on individual survival
innate behavior
an inherited behavior that does not depend on the environment or experience
critical period
an optimal period shortly after birth when an organism's exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development
habituation
an organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it
Explain why behavioral biologists today are more open to considering that animals can think
chimpanzees show evidence of being able to critically think and problem solve (monkey and high bananas), as well as ravens and octopi
Discuss the economic analysis of behavior
estimates the energy benefits and costs of a behavior and assumes that animals gain more from a behavior than they expend
Discuss the types of studies that provided evidence to link genes and behavior
fast rat and slow rat populations, fosB and maternal rats, and voles/mice and pair-bonding behavior
Describe the mechanisms of learning.
habituation (repeated exposure to stimuli leads to a diminished response to it that's neither positive or negative) and association (a behavior is modified or conditioned)
proximate causation
how a behavior occurs
Describe how extra-pair copulations increase fitness of males and females
increases reproductive success in males and females mate with genetically superior individuals (offspring with better genetic quality)
Psychological factors for the basis of innate behaviors
key stimulus affect innate releasing mechanisms, which trigger fixed motor programs
relationship between key stimulus and fixed action pattern
key stimulus causes the fixed action pattern
associative learning
linking two stimuli, or events, that occur together
Explain how social contact can influence growth and development.
little contact = abnormal growth and development
Understand how phylogenies may reveal the evolutionary history of a behavior.
phylogenies can allow reconstruction of the evolutionary history of a trait
Explain the possible advantages of group living.
protection from predators and increased feeding success
Explain the nature of signals used in mate attraction
signals (sounds, chemicals, or movements) are used to attract males or females. they are essential for reproduction in most animals. they are typically distinct to that species
parental investing
the amount of time, energy, and resources each parent put in to raising the offspring
Discuss the role of the critical period in imprinting.
the critical period is when imprinting typically happens, filial imprinting is between parent and offspring
Kin selection
the idea that behaviors that help a genetic relative are favored by natural selection
imprinting
the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in lifer
Explain how the study of song learning in white-crowned sparrows illustrates the interaction of instinct and learning
the results of the experiment showed the sparrows must hear their specie's song to sing it correctly, indicating both instinct and learning effect song development
Explain parental investment and the prediction it makes about mate choice
the sex that has higher parental investment will be more selective about mate choice
Ethology
the study of instinct and its origins
behavioral ecology
the study of the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior
Describe how honeybees communicate information about the location of new food sources
the waggle dance
Explain how single genes can influence behavior
they encode molecular products that build and govern the functioning of the brain through which behavior is expressed
List the requirements for behavior to evolve by natural selection
variation must exist, that variation causes differences in fitness, and variation must be genetically based
Define learning preparedness
what an animal can learn is biological influenced - learning is possible only within the boundaries set my evolution