Behavior Basics
The way an organism reacts to its environment or another organism
Behavior
A change that causes a reaction (it can be internal or external)
Stimulus
Fight or run away behavior is called...
Fight-or-Flight response
Behavior you are born with or inherited.
Innate behavior
What is an instinctive, seasonal movement of animals from one place to another?
Keeping internal conditions stable or an internal steady state
Homeostastis
Hunger or thirst is an example of what kind of stimulus (internal or external)?
Internal stimulus
Birds fluff their feathers in cold weather. What is the stimulus? What is the response?
cold temperatures = external stimulus
birds fluffing their feathers to retain heat = response
An innate behavior that is an automatic response without thinking
Reflex
Dormancy and slowing down of metabolism and body systems.
Torpor
A behavior performed by more than one animal of the same species
Group behavior
Weather changes are an example of what kind of stimulus (internal or external)?
External stimulus
Fever helps fight illness. What is the stimulus? What is the response?
illness = internal stimulus; fever = response
An innate behavior that involves a number of steps performed in a specific order (a snake eating an egg).
Instincts
A type of torpor (inactivity/dormancy) that takes place in hot/dry weather
Estivation
A behavior performed by a single animal
Individual behavior
A dog sniffing after detecting a smell is an example of a stimulus or a response?
Response. The smell is the external stimulus, the response is sniffing.
Fight-or-flight is what type of response?
Stress response
Give an example of an innate behavior.
Various answer possibilities. Teacher determines correctness
Why do animals migrate?
To find food, water, or to breed
Individual vs group behavior example
many possible answers - teacher confirms correctness
Give an example of a stimulus + response
Various possible answers - teacher determines correctness
When might animals fight instead of fleeing?
When being cornered or protecting their territory
Why do insects rely mostly on innate behaviors? (think lifespan)
Insects have a short lifespan and can survive without learning
What type of torpor (inactivity/dormancy) do reptiles exhibit?
Brumation