Why Animals Do Weird Things
What is behavior? Give an example.
Behavior is the way an organism responds to its environment (ex. a bird building a nest)
What are mating systems?
How animals pair and reproduce.
What are some ways animals communicate? Give an example.
Sounds, body movements, chemicals called pheromones (ex. birds singing)
What are three things animas compete for?
Food, mates and territory
What is migration?
The seasonal movement of animals from one place to another.
What is an instinct? Give an example.
An instinct is an inherited behavior that animals are born knowing how to do (ex. a baby turtle moving towards the ocean after hatching)
What is a monogamous animal?
An animal that has one mate.
Give a different example of animals comunicating.
Visual signals (ex. a peacock spreading its colorful feathers)
What is territory (in terms of survival)?
An area that provides resources and is defended by an animal.
What are the three reasons animals migrate?
Food, reproduction and avoiding harsh weather.
What is the goal of most animal behavior?
To survive and reproduce.
What is polygyny?
One male mating with many females.
What is a pheromone?
A chemical signal released by an animal that signals that they are ready to mate.
What is cooperative behavior?
Behavior where animals work together to achieve a goal.
True or False: Migration follows a predictable pattern.
True
What is the drive behind reproduction?
The need to pass on genes to the next generation/to prevent extinction of species
What is polyandry?
One female mating with many males.
What is territory?
An area that an animal defends as its own.
What are the benefits of cooperative behavior?
Increased chances of survival (ex. hunting in groups, protection from predators, raising offspring)
Many animals migrate together to produce offspring in conditions that will be more favorable to their survival. What is the benefit of sharing the responsibility of raising their young?
It gives the offspring a better chance at survival.
What is aggression?
Behavior used to threaten or harm another organism.
What is polygynandry?
Many organisms mating with many organisms.
Describe two different parenting strategies animals use and why they are both effective.
Some animals don't care for their offspring, but they usually give birth to many. Even though many die young, there are so many fertilized that some survive.
Other animals have few offspring, but work very hard to care for them. This is how they ensure their survival.
What is the difference between internal and external development?
Internal: young develop inside the parent (ex. mammals)
External: young develop outside the parent (ex. eggs in birds, fish)
What is the difference between learned behaviors and instincts?
Instincts: born with
Learned behavior: taught and must be practiced
What are internal and external fertilization? Define and give an example of both.
Internal: fertilization occurs inside female's body (ex. mammals, reptiles)
External: fertilization occurs outside the body, usually in water (ex. fish, frogs)
Male birds of paradise show off their bright feathers and dance when females are around. What is this behavior an example of and what is its purpose?
Courtship behavior used to attract the attention of the female bird so she will be interested in mating with him