BehavioBehaviorr

Animal behavior is actually the product of genes modified by the

environment

If an organism is to survive to reproduce, its behavior must be

adaptive to new situations

• Adaptation is a combination of inherited and learned characteristics that improve an organism’s chances

to survive and reproduce

• Poorly adapted organisms do not usually survive, and their species

may even become extinct

Innate behavior• Sometimes known as inborn

behavior

• Not dependent on experience

• Ready to go as soon as the organism is born or hatched!– Such as sucking or crying

Innate behavior• Some animals may have certain

established behaviors– Dogs who have been trained for life

indoors may scratch the carpet or couch in order to get at buried items

– They may turn in circles before laying down to flatten the grass or chase out insects.

Innate behavior• Environmental influences may

trigger innate behavior, but does not explain it

Although the kittenhas never fallen, she

is still hesitant to step out onto the glass

Innate behavior• A complex innate behavior is

referred to as an instinct

Learned Behavior

Learned Behavior• Consists of all of the responses

developed by an organism as a result of environmental experiences

• Range from – simple adjustments to innate behavior

(ie. Our dog urinating out side) – to complex (ie. Playing a violin)

Learned Behavior

• Here, a toad is stung by a bee• When a robber fly comes by, the toad is

does not attempt to eat it!

Learned Behavior• 1. Imprinting: some organisms will

follow the first moving object. Some times to the point where it will never return to its true mother!

Learned Behavior• 2. Habituation: when an animal is

exposed to a stimulus over and over again.

• Example: You ignore the sound of the aquarium while in class …– Or your mother while she is gripping

about anything

Learned Behavior• 3. Conditioning: occurs when patterns of

innate behavior are changed

Training to salivate

at the sight of a light

Or The sound of a bell!

Pavlov’s dog

Learned Behavior• 4. Trial and Error: using either pleasure or

pain, many organisms learn after many trials in order to make the correct response!

• Mimicry is a developmental answer some organisms have in order to survive in their environment

• Example:– Robber fly and a Bumble bee

– Viceroy butter fly and a Monarch