OK Navid....

So I did some of the questions per Navid's taunt, but there are more to come as I had to skip around and juggle some time. I will be answering more later and I am open to corrections and comments as this blog is for the class. Let the games begin.

192) What is ethology?

a. The study of instinctual behaviors.

193) Describe sign stimuli and give examples.

a. Sign stimuli are stimuli that initiate an IRM (Innate Response Mechanism), which then triggers an FAP (Fixed Action Pathway, or action)

194) What are innate releasing mechanisms (inn's)?

a. A pre-programmed response to a certain stimulus.

195) Describe and give examples of the following types of learning: habituation, conditioning, classical and operant conditioning, generalized and discriminating conditioning, latent learning, insight learning, imprinting.

a. Habituation: Not responding to stimuli (grass under the feet, etc)

b. Conditioning: learned response to a stimulus that is reward based.

i. Classic: one stimulus substitutes for the natural one. No reward needed.

ii. Operant: present the behavior, get the reward.

iii. Generalized: similar stimuli generate the same response (Think baby Albert and the white rabbit)

iv. Discriminatory: only specific stimuli generate a response. (gunshot vs. popping a paper bad)

c. Latent learning: Experience that leads to faster problem solving (exposure to a maze will give one a better chance of completing it faster than one who has not.

d. Insight learning: Mental problem solving.

e. Imprinting: Fast learning done at certain times in life (ducks associating first thing they see as “mother”

196) What is the relationship between memory, engram, retrieval, and long-term memory, short-term memory.

a. Memory: retainment of facts, etc.

b. Engram: New/Permanent circuitry in the brain.

c. Retrieval: ability to recall memories stored in LTM.

d. Long term memory: Memories that a hardwired into the brain. Happens in 1^st hour of STM.

e. Short term memory: memory that exists only in existing circuitry. Will break down if not transferred to LTM.

197) Describe the role of the following in communication: coloration, tags, posture, eye contact, sound, pheromones, and chemicals.

a. Coloration: communicates gender

b. Tags: Communication without compromising silence (like tigers and cubs)

c. Posture: Body Language

d. Eye contact: dominance/submissiveness,

e. Sound: Distance communication

f. Pheromones: Chemical communication

g. Chemicals: communicates location, reproductive ability, etc.

198) How is behavior related to the genetic isolation that forms a species?

a. Because most species cannot intercommunicate (e.g. polar and grizzly bears). Different languages mean that one does not understand the other, limiting or nixing the chances of interbreeding.

199) Describe the role of aggression between and among species.

a. Intraspecific aggression: Protecting harems, protecting territory, etc.

b. Interspecific aggression: Protect food supplies, territory, take out aggression (wolves killing coyotes?)

200) Give examples of social behaviors.

a. Mutually beneficial behaviors, such as preening, caring for another’s young, moving as a herd.

201) Describe and give examples of the following: intraspecific and interspecific cooperation, altruism.

a. Intraspecific cooperation: Pack hunting

b. Interspecific cooperation: “Tick birds” that warn their “favorite” animals of immediate danger.

c. Altruism: Taking a bullet for someone to protect them.