Animal Behaviour Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is animal behaviour?
The actions and reactions of whole organisms
The culmination of all the physiological andneurological signs in the body
Involves all the static postures and active movements, all the noises and sounds and change of colour and shape that characterise animal life
True or false
Behaviour can be adaptive.
True
True or false
Predator species are less expressive than prey species
False
Prey species are less expressive than predators
What is the evolution and biology of behaviour ?
Genes that favour survival and reproduction in a particular environment will be passed onto the next generations
Innate/genetically determined species behaviour is shaped by natural selection to maximise fitness in a biological niche
Features that alter how behaviour is expressed by different animal species
Predator and prey species
Social and asocial species
Species can handle the some problem differently eg. Using different senses to find the same type of food
When feeding and foraging social and asocial animals hill do things differently eg. Solitary - hunt and social - group forage
Behavioural adaptations take place to maximise benefits and minimise the risks of living in groups
What is learning?
A permanent change in a response to a stimulus/ situation/ event that occurs as a result of experience
Learned behaviour is reliably performing an innate behaviour in response to new cues
Name 2 methods of non associative learning
Habituation
Sensitisation
What is habituation?
Response to a stimulus decreases with increased exposure
Can be used to reduce fear
If keep being exposed to object will become less scared
What is sensitisation?
Response to a stimulus increases with increased exposure
Can increase fear
Name 2 methods of associative learning
Classical conditioning
Operant/ instrumental conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Association formed between an event and a neutral but predictive cure eg. Pavlov’s dogs
What is operant/ instrumental conditioning?
Association formed between an event ,a behavioural response and the outcome eg. Thorndike’s cats in a puzzle box
Name key behavioural signs indicating emotional states in a range of animals
Escape/avoidance
Vocalisation
Defecation
Showing eye whites
Searching behaviours
Protection or guarding
Lethargy, depression and sleep disruption
Changes of pattern of normal behaviour
Lowered posture is a sign of which emotional state?
Fear
Upright posture is a sign of which emotional state
Aggression
Factors that influence animals behaviour
Fear, anxiety and stress (FAS)
Frustration
Motivation
Ways to train animals to show more or less specific behavious
Adding reinforcement
Adding a punisher
What is positive reinforcement
When a good thing is added eg. Treats
What is negative reinforcement?
When a bad thing is removed
What is positive punishment?
When a bad thing is added eg. Water spray
What is negative punishment?
When a good thing is removed
Name ways VNs can promote good behaviour in their clients
Puppy and kitten classes
Stress reduction plans
Good handling techniques
Use of treats
Stress reduction in kennels and waiting rooms
Socialisation
Habituation
Common behavioural problems in dogs
Pulling lead
Excessive barking
Chewing/mouthing
Digging
Inappropriate elimination
Chasing
Jumping up
Aggression
Common behavioural problems in dogs
Pulling lead
Excessive barking
Chewing/mouthing
Digging
Inappropriate elimination
Chasing
Jumping up
Aggression
