Notes-51

Question 0

ultimate causation

Answer 0

evolutionary reason 4 the existence of a behavior

Question 1

Behavior

Answer 1

what an animal does & how it does it

Question 2

proximate causation

Answer 2

immediate cause and/or mechanism underlying a behavior

Question 3

Behaviors result from nature influence

Answer 3

genetic influence

Question 4

Behaviors also result from nurture influence

Answer 4

environmental influence

Question 5

innate behavior

Answer 5

all behaviors, including those present at birth

Question 6

ethology

Answer 6

descriptive science based on studies of animals in the natural environment

Question 7

fixed-action pattern (FAP)

Answer 7

• highly stereotyped innate behavior

- triggered by external sign stimulus

Question 8

supernormal stimuli

Answer 8

artificial stimulus that may elicit stronger responses than natural stimuli

Question 9

optimal behavior

Answer 9

behavior that maximizes individual fitness

Question 10

behavioral ecology

Answer 10

field of study that assumes animals increase fitness thru optimal behavior

Question 11

search image

Answer 11

ability of a generalist feeder to learn the key visual characteristics of a prey item

Question 12

learning

Answer 12

modification of behavior by experience

Question 13

maturation

Answer 13

development of neuromuscular systems that allows behavioral improvement

Question 14

habituation

Answer 14

learning to ignore irreverent stimuli or stimuli that convey little or no information

Question 15

imprinting stimulus

Answer 15

object in environment to which the response is directed

Question 16

critical period

Answer 16

limited time during which imprinting can occur

Question 17

associative learning

Answer 17

ability of many animals to associate 1 stimulus w/ another

Question 18

classical conditioning

Answer 18

• type of associative learning

- arbitrary stimulus is associated w/ award or punishment

Question 19

operant conditioning/ trial-and-error learning

Answer 19

• type of associative learning

- animal learns to associate 1 of its own behaviors w/ award & punishment & then tends to avoid or repeat that behavior