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Chapter 6

Animal behaviour is the study of how animals respond to stimuli, influenced by genetics, learning, hormones, and environment. It includes innate behaviours, learned behaviours, communication, social structures, and circadian rhythms, all of which play crucial roles in survival and reproduction. Understanding animal behaviour is important for conservation, animal welfare, and insights into human psychology.

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60 views6 pages

Chapter 6

Animal behaviour is the study of how animals respond to stimuli, influenced by genetics, learning, hormones, and environment. It includes innate behaviours, learned behaviours, communication, social structures, and circadian rhythms, all of which play crucial roles in survival and reproduction. Understanding animal behaviour is important for conservation, animal welfare, and insights into human psychology.

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memonsaba373
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Chapter: Animal Behaviour – Key

Notes

1. What is Animal Behaviour?


• The study of how animals respond to
stimuli in their internal or external
environment.
• Behaviour is influenced by genetics,
learning, hormones, and environment.
• Ethology is the scientific study of
animal behaviour.

2. Types of Behaviour

A. Innate Behaviour (Inborn)


• Inherited and genetically
programmed.
• Not learned or modified by
experience.
• Examples:
• Reflexes (e.g., knee jerk)
• Taxis (directional movement toward
or away from a stimulus)
• Instincts (complex fixed patterns –
e.g., bird migration)

B. Learned Behaviour
• Acquired through experience or
training.
• Modifiable and adaptive.
• Types:
• Habituation: Decreased response
after repeated exposure to a stimulus.
• Conditioning:
• Classical Conditioning (Pavlov’s dog
experiment)
• Operant Conditioning
(reward/punishment-based learning)
• Imprinting: Learning at a particular
age (e.g., ducklings following mother).
• Insight Learning: Problem-solving by
thinking (e.g., chimp using stick for
food).

3. Orientation Behaviours
• Taxis: Movement towards or away
from a stimulus (e.g., phototaxis).
• Kinesis: Random movement affected
by intensity, not direction (e.g.,
woodlice moving in dry area).
• Reflex: Automatic, involuntary
response to stimulus.

4. Communication in Animals
• Behaviour used to convey
information.
• Methods:
• Visual (e.g., mating dances in birds)
• Auditory (e.g., whale songs, dog
barking)
• Chemical (e.g., pheromones in ants)
• Tactile (touch) (e.g., grooming in
primates)

5. Social Behaviour
• Seen in animals living in groups or
colonies.
• Ensures survival, reproduction, and
cooperation.

Examples:
• Bees and ants: Division of labour
(queen, drones, workers)
• Wolves and lions: Pack and pride
hunting
• Altruism: Sacrificing self for the
group (seen in eusocial animals like
bees)
6. Circadian Rhythms (Biological
Clocks)
• Internal rhythms matching 24-hour
cycles.
• Control sleep-wake, feeding,
hormone production.
• Regulated by light/dark cycles and
hormones like melatonin.

7. Migration
• Seasonal movement of animals for
breeding or feeding.
• Examples:
• Arctic Tern (longest bird migration)
• Salmon (returning to spawn)
• Monarch butterflies

8. Courtship and Mating Behaviour


• Specific behaviours that help in mate
selection.
• Include:
• Songs, dances, display of colors,
releasing scents.
• Ensures mating with the right
species.

9. Hormonal Influence on Behaviour


• Hormones affect aggression,
reproduction, and parenting.
• Example: Testosterone increases
territorial and mating behaviour.

10. Importance of Studying Animal


Behaviour
• Helps in:
• Conservation efforts
• Improving animal welfare
• Understanding human psychology
and behaviour

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