Animal Behavior

1. Instincts and learned behaviors

INSTINCTS - are genetically determined

LEARNED BEHAVIORS - all of them rise from individual experience

interacting with the environment

Scientists studying the ANIMAL BEHAVIOR divided behavioral features into

two large categories: INSTINCTS and LEARNED BEHAVIORS
Cacatua leadbeateri - Both species use tree holes to nest
(pink cockatoo)
- Sometimes the same hole is taken both by pink cockatoo and galah,
and they lay eggs without interacting too much

-They start incubating eggs only after the clutch is complete;

when conflicts arise, pink cockatoo being larger, always wins

- Pink cockatoo will incubate and rear ALL the eggs

How
How will
will behave
behave the
the galah
galah chicks?
chicks?
Like
Like galahs
galahs or
or like
like pink
pink cackatoo?
cackatoo?

-Behaviors belonging
-Behaviors belonging to
to GALAH:
GALAH:
-- Begging
Begging calls
calls
-- Alarm
Alarm calls
calls

-Behaviors belonging
-Behaviors belonging to to PINK
PINK CACKATOO:
CACKATOO:
-Contact calls
-Contact calls
-Flight pattern
-Flight pattern -- Slow
Slow wing
wing beats
beats
Cacatua roseicapilla -Feeding preferences - Seeds eating
-Feeding preferences - Seeds eating
(galah)
 What is an INSTINCT?
Is a behavior that appears completely functional from the first time it is performed

Grasping
Grasping
Yawn
Feeding Bees dance

Ritual combat Parental care

Nuptial
Nuptial dance
dance

Grooming Dominance yowling

Mating
Mating
Code
Code brackers
brackers
The rove beetle Atemeles pubicollis lays its eggs in the nest of the ant Formica polyctena

The beetle larvae posses

special glands that produce
a pheromone that releases
brood-keeping behavior in
their hosts.
In the brood chamber, the
beetle larvae feed on ant
eggs and larvae;

Atemeles adults mimic the food begging behavior of

ant larvae: they tap worker ant’s mandibles with
their mouthparts

The
The broken
broken codes
codes are:
are:
-chemical composition of
-chemical composition of the
the ants
ants pheromones
pheromones
-begging behavior of ant larvae
-begging behavior of ant larvae
 Nest
Nest parasitism
parasitism in
in cuckoo
cuckoo
The
The European
European cuckoo
cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is
(Cuculus canorus) is aa brood
brood
parasite, laying eggs in the nest of other birds:
parasite, laying eggs in the nest of other birds:
Dunnocks
Dunnocks (Prunella
(Prunella sp.)
sp.)
Meadow
Meadow Pipits
Pipits (Anthus
(Anthus sp.)
sp.)
Dunnock Meadow Pipit
Eurasian
Eurasian Reed
Reed Warblers
Warblers (Acrocephalus
(Acrocephalus sp.)
sp.)
Reed Warblers

A
A young
young cuckoo
cuckoo can
can perform
perform aa complex
complex
egg
egg ejection
ejection response
response shortly
shortly after
after itit
hatches
hatches

In
In this
this case
case the
the broken
broken code
code is
is the
the color
color
of
of eggs, that has to be very similar to that
eggs, that has to be very similar to that
of
of host
host eggs.
eggs.
 Learning
Learning == animal
animal conditioning
conditioning
Ivan Pavlov

Classical
Classical conditioning
conditioning:: Pavlov
Pavlov experiments
experiments (Nobel
(Nobel price
price in
in 1904
1904 for
for
studying
studying the
the digestive
digestive system)
system)

1. Unconditioned stimulus (meat) Unconditioned response

(salivation)

2. Unconditioned stimulus (meat) Unconditioned response

(salivation)
Neutral stimulus (sound; light)

3. Conditioned stimulus (sound; Conditioned response

light) (salivation)
 Operant
Operant conditioning:
conditioning: the
the animal
animal learns
learns to
to associate
associate an
an activity
activity with
with their
their consequences
consequences

The
The Skinner
Skinner box
box

B.
B. F.
F. Skinner
Skinner

AA rat
rat has
has to
to press
press byby hazard
hazard
the
the lever,
lever,
and
and aa food
food pellet
pellet is
is released
released

The
The organism
organism encounters
encounters aa special
special kind
kind of
of stimulus,
stimulus, called
called aa
reinforcing stimulus, or
reinforcing stimulus, or simply
simply aa reinforcer
reinforcer == the
the food
food pellet
pellet

This
This special
special stimulus
stimulus has
has the
the effect
effect of
of increasing
increasing the
the
behavior
behavior occurring
occurring just
just before
before the
the reinforcer.
reinforcer.

This
This is
is operant
operant conditioning:
conditioning: “the
“the behavior
behavior is
is followed
followed byby aa
consequence,
consequence, andand the
the nature
nature of
of the
the consequence
consequence modifies
modifies
the
the organisms
organisms tendency
tendency to
to repeat
repeat the
the behavior
behavior inin the
the future.”
future.”

The animal will associate a behavior with its consequences

 Varieties
Varieties of
of Learning
Learning
Spatial
Spatial learning
learning in
in insects…………………………………………………..and
insects…………………………………………………..and in
in birds
birds

Digger
Digger wasp
wasp (Sphex
(Sphex sp.)
sp.) learns
learns the
the landmarks
landmarks
surrounding
surrounding their
their nest
nest burrow
burrow

Clark’s
Clark’s nutcracker
nutcracker
(Nucifraga
(Nucifraga columbiana)
columbiana)

Its
Its spatial
spatial memory
memory is is uncommon,
uncommon,
being
being able
able to
to remember
remember as as many
many
as
as 9000
9000 caches
caches ofof pine
pine seeds
seeds

Insight
Insight learning
learning Video
Video clip
clip
Pigeons
Pigeons trained
trained to
to push
push aa small
small box
box toward
toward aa green
green spot
spot on
on the
the
floor
floor of
of the
the cage.
cage.
Then
Then they
they were
were trained
trained to
to climb
climb on
on an
an object
object (a
(a fix
fix box)
box) in
in order
order to
to
pick
pick aa miniature
miniature of
of banana
banana hanging
hanging in
in their
their cage
cage above
above the
the box.
box.
When
When the
the scientists
scientists placed
placed aa moveable
moveable box
box in
in the
the middle
middle of
of the
the
cage
cage and
and aa suspended
suspended banana
banana some
some distance
distance away,
away, the
the pigeon
pigeon
began
began toto push
push the
the box
box around,
around, stopping
stopping when
when thethe box
box was
was
positioned
positioned under
under the
the banana,
banana, at
at which
which point
point they
they climbed
climbed up
up and
and
pecked
pecked atat the
the banana.
banana.
 Instincts
Instincts can
can be
be modified
modified by
by Experience?
Experience?
Australian
Australian wasp
wasp Arthrothynnus
Arthrothynnus huntianus
huntianus
Wasp
Wasp male
male carrying
carrying aa Wingless
Wingless female
female
female
female release
release aa pheromone
pheromone
when
when ready to
ready to mate
mate

The
The male
male attempts
attempts toto copulate
copulate unsuccessfully
unsuccessfully with
with the
the
orchid Drakaea (Spiculaea) ciliata
orchid Drakaea (Spiculaea) ciliata
which
which imitates
imitates the
the smell
smell and
and the
the shape
shape of
of the
the wasp
wasp female
female

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h8I3cqpgnA

Usually, only young males could be cheated;

the more experienced ones don’t
approach orchid flowers, because they
learn:
1. The morphological details of a real wasp
female
2. The intensity of the feromones: a female’s
feromone is waeker than a feromone of a
group of orchids
 Imprinting
Imprinting
Konrad
Konrad Lorenz,
Lorenz, together
together with
with Karl
Karl von
von Frisch
Frisch and
and Nikolas
Nikolas Tinbergen
Tinbergen
Received
Received the
the Nobel
Nobel Prize
Prize for
for medicine
medicine in
in 1973,
1973, for
for contributions
contributions to
to elucidating
elucidating the
the
Individual and social behavioral patterns
Individual and social behavioral patterns

Lorenz
Lorenz used
used to
to speak
speak in
in the
the neighborhood
neighborhood of of goose
goose eggs
eggs few
few days
days before
before hatching.
hatching.
When
When the
the chicks
chicks were
were able
able to
to walk,
walk, they
they followed
followed Lorenz
Lorenz everywhere,
everywhere, considering
considering him
him as
as their
their mother.
mother.
They
They were
were imprinted
imprinted == they
they performed
performed anan attachment
attachment toto Lorenz
Lorenz

-Few months
-Few months later
later when
when become
become adults,
adults, males
males tried
tried co
co court
court (including
(including but
but not
not limited
limited to)
to) Lorenz,
Lorenz,
considering
considering him
him as
as aa goose
goose female
female

Young
Young shrews
shrews form
form aa “caravan”
“caravan”
and attach to their mother.
and attach to their mother.

They
They are
are imprinted
imprinted with
with the
the smell
smell
of the female and follow her.
of the female and follow her.
 Learning
Learning and
and kin
kin recognition
recognition
Kin
Kin recognition
recognition is
is aa differential
differential treatment
treatment of
of members
members of
of the
the same
same species
species in
in aa
manner
manner related
related to
to their
their genetic
genetic relatedness.
relatedness.

Kin
Kin recognition
recognition provides
provides thethe basis
basis for
for actions
actions that
that enhance
enhance
the
the propagation
propagation of
of the
the individual’s
individual’s genes.
genes.
Young
Young spiny
spiny mice
mice placed
placed in
in aa test
test arena
arena will
will seek
seek out
out
each
each other’s
other’s company;
company; but
but ifif given
given aa choice,
choice, they
they prefer
prefer
to
to stay
stay by
by individuals
individuals with
with whom
whom they they have
have associated
associated in
in
litter.
litter.
In
In an
an experiment
experiment performed
performed with
with Belding’s
Belding’s ground
ground squirrel
squirrel
(Spermophilus
(Spermophilus beldingi), new-born were placed following this
beldingi), new-born were placed following this
model:
model:
1.
1. Siblings
Siblings reared
reared together
together
2.
2. Siblings
Siblings reared
reared apart
apart
3.
3. Nonsiblings
Nonsiblings reared together
reared together
4.
4. Nonsiblings
Nonsiblings reared
reared apart
apart

After
After weaning
weaning (ceasing
(ceasing milk
milk feeding),
feeding), each
each was
was separated
separated and
and
after
after a while, pairs were placed in an arena and given a chance to
a while, pairs were placed in an arena and given a chance to
interact
interact
Conclusions:
Conclusions:
Animals
Animals reared
reared together,
together, whether
whether sibling
sibling or
or not,
not, generally
generally treated
treated each
each other
other nicely
nicely
Animals
Animals reared
reared apart
apart were
were likely
likely to
to react
react aggressively
aggressively to to one
one another,
another, with
with an
an exception:
exception:
Biological
Biological sisters reared apart showed a low rate of aggressiveness than nonsiblings (even
sisters reared apart showed a low rate of aggressiveness than nonsiblings (even half-sisters)
half-sisters)
Biological
Biological brothers
brothers reared
reared apart
apart showed
showed aa high
high rate
rate of
of aggressiveness
aggressiveness

WHY?.......Dispersion
WHY?.......Dispersion inin young
young is
is different:
different: males
males go
go further,
further, females
females will
will stay
stay by
by the
the mother’s
mother’s territory
territory
because they - already know the territory, food and water resources, shelters.
because they - already know the territory, food and water resources, shelters.
-- could
could receive
receive help
help
Advantages
Advantages of
of instincts
instincts Don’t
Don’t need
need added
added neuronal
neuronal tissue
tissue (learning
(learning costs)
costs)

-Males sing; their brain has an area called nucleus hyperstriatum ventralis very
well developed, much larger (three times) than those of females, that don’t sing.

- Each spring they “erase the hard disk” = loose/replace a lot of neurons in order
to be able to learn new songs (feature needed for territory and female competition).

Canary
Canary (Serinus
(Serinus sp.)
sp.)

Advantages Learning
Learning is
is specialized,
specialized, THAT
THAT REDUCES
REDUCES THE
THE RISK
RISK to
to learn
Advantages of
of learning
learning wrong
wrong things
things or
or irrelevant
irrelevant information
information
learn

In
In an
an arena,
arena, aa rat
rat could
could be
be conditioned
conditioned to
to flee
flee ifif an
an electric
electric shock
shock is
is performed,
performed,
but
but never
never to
to rear
rear up
up on
on its
its hind
hind legs.
legs.
WHY?.....because
WHY?.....because running is a defensive behavior
running is a defensive behavior (adaptive
(adaptive response
response to
to
aa threatening
threatening signal),
signal), whereas
whereas rearing
rearing up
up is
is an
an exploratory
exploratory behavior
behavior

rat
rat (Rattus
(Rattus sp.)
sp.)

In
In aa Skinner
Skinner cage,
cage, aa pigeon
pigeon will
will never
never be be conditioned
conditioned to to hit
hit the
the lever
lever with
with
the
the wing
wing in
in order
order to
to receive
receive food
food (it
(it is
is possible
possible only
only pecking
pecking by by beak)
beak)
WHY?.....because
WHY?.....because wing wing hit
hit is
is used
used for
for defense
defense (and
(and fly),
fly), and
and NEVER
NEVER to to feed.
feed.

AA behavioral
behavioral sequence
sequence belonging
belonging to
to aa certain
certain behavioral
behavioral category
category
(e.g.
(e.g. feeding,
feeding, or
or defense)
defense) can
can be
be associated
associated only
only with
with behavioral
behavioral
sequences
sequences belonging
belonging to
to the
the SAME
SAME behavioral
behavioral category
category
 2. COMMUNICATION
Who
Who communicates
communicates ?? Intraspecific
Intraspecific or/and
or/and interspecific......?
interspecific......?

Information
Information about:
about:
-- feeding
feeding
What
What is
is in
in the
the message?
message? -- reproduction
reproduction
-- defense
defense
-- territory
territory etc...
etc...
How
How one
one communicates?
communicates?

Tactile
Tactile communication
communication
Antennas
Antennas in
in insects
insects

Sound
Sound communication
communication
Chemical
Chemical communication
communication
pheromones
pheromones

Visual
Visual communication
communication
 Is
Is communication
communication always
always honest?
honest?

Photinus
Photinus sp.
sp. Photuris
Photuris sp.
sp. Photuris female
Photuris female eating
eating aa Photinus
Photinus male
male

The langur ((Presbytis

The langur Presbytis entellus
entellus ))
A
A gravid
gravid female
female deceits
deceits the
the new
new partner
partner in
in
order
order to
to save
save her
her baby:
baby: he
he offers
offers her
her to
to the
the
new
new male>>>he
male>>>he will
will copulate
copulate her,
her, and
and if
if ehs
ehs will
will
give
give birth
birth after
after few
few days,
days, he
he will
will consider
consider the
the
baby
baby as
as being
being his
his baby
baby
 Water vole ((Arvicola
Water vole Arvicola terrestris
terrestris))

When
When aa gravid
gravid female
female is
is moved
moved to
to an
an area
area
occupied
occupied by
by another
another male,
male, she
she will
will resume
resume herher
cycle
cycle and
and mate
mate with
with the
the new
new male
male (all
(all of
of the
the
moved
moved females
females have
have fresh
fresh male-donated
male-donated vaginal
vaginal
plug
plug in
in the
the reproductive
reproductive tract)
tract)

The
The white-winged
white-winged tanager
tanager shrike
shrike (Lanio
(Lanio versicolor)
versicolor)
Usually
Usually perches
perches in
in aa top
top of
of aa tree,
tree, and
and signals
signals ifif aa
danger
danger appears
appears (predator
(predator bird);
bird); all
all singers
singers
(Passeriformes)
(Passeriformes) will
will dive
dive in
in bushes.
bushes.
When
When itit pursues
pursues aa flying
flying insect
insect that
that another
another bird
bird is
is
chasing,
chasing, will
will give
give this
this call
call in
in order
order to
to be
be allowed
allowed to
to
chase
chase itself
itself the
the pray.
pray.
 Displays
Displays and
and Deception
Deception –– Selection
Selection for
for HONEST
HONEST signals
signals

Toad
Toad Bufo
Bufo bufo
bufo

A small male will sing at a

a higher frequency than a
large one; the female will
choose the one that sing at
a lowest frequency

Male
Male red
red deer
deer