Chapter is hodge-podge of topics

Stimulus/response to explore operating rules

of neural mechanisms (proximate causes)
Specialized systems to explore ultimate
causes of differences in neurophysiology
Stimulus filtering (cause its cool)
Cognitive abilities and role of social
environment

Ethology: study of both proximate and

ultimate causes of behavior
Tinbergen & Lorenz
Focus on instincts

Instinct: behavior pattern that appears fully

functional without experience or learning
Not genetically determined

Gene-environment interactions taking place

during development

Innate Releasing Mechanism

Cue: sign stimulus or releaser

Activates instinct or fixed action pattern

Code breaking
Exploitation of FAP
Orchids/wasps
Brood parasites
Worm grunters

Complex responses to simple stimuli

WHY???
Discussion Q#2

Allows animals to behave adaptively

Red Queen hypothesis

Bat moth evolutionary arms race

Griffens work
Little brown bats (no longer common)
Underwing moths

Used for locating prey and navigation

Short, high frequency calls
Species differ in frequency, call duration

http://askabiologist.asu.edu/sites/default/files/echolocation.jpg

Little brown bat

Big brown bat
http://www.caveofthemounds.com

Eastern red bat

http://www.batguys.com/services/bats
http://www.outdooralabama.com/

Hoary bat

Indiana bat
Eastern pipistrelle

http://home.earthlink.net

Small-footed bat
Silver-haired bat
http://www.discoverlife.org

http://upload.wikimedia.org

http://www.utdallas.edu

Little brown bat

Big brown bat
http://www.caveofthemounds.com

Eastern red bat

http://www.batguys.com/services/bats
http://www.outdooralabama.com/

Hoary bat

Indiana bat
Eastern pipistrelle

http://home.earthlink.net

Small-footed bat
Silver-haired bat
http://www.discoverlife.org

http://upload.wikimedia.org

http://www.utdallas.edu

 WHY???
Discussion Q#4

Stimulus filtering: ability of neurons and

neural networks to ignore/filter info

Activation by biologically relevant stimuli

Hear in 60-120 Hz range in winter

Hear up to 400 Hz range in summer

Why????

Takeaway messages:

Species have different neural mechanisms

so proximate reason why behaviors differ
Selection shape neurophysiology - ultimate
causes of differences in bahavior
Stimulus filtering stayin alive
Social environments shape evolved
properties of nerve cells and nervous systems