Behaviour in animals

Animal communication
Making sounds (snake hissing signal presence of predator) Producing chemicals (pheromones)-Moths do this to attract a mate By giving signals or displays (peacock show their feathers) Through body language and facial expressions (Chimpanzee grinning= fear, These are species specific)

Courting behaviour (sexual reproduction is the outcome)

Males attract females and then females select a particular mate from a number of possibilities. Females choice is guided by the males displays which will probably indicate the health of the male. Females will choose them because they think they have good genes and this will increase the chances of their young surviving. Monogamous species- both parents involved in looking after the offspring Polygamous species- males do not usually take role as a parent.

Parental care
Involves, feeding, protecting and helping offspring interact with others. This behaviour helps the offspring to survive Takes time and effort If care increase chance of offspring surviving then parents indirectly benefit because their genes pass from one generation to the next

Human communication
Body language, gestures and facial expression humans have also developed sophisticated methods of communication based on language which enables us to pass on knowledge to other humans including emotions and complex ideas Humans have a voice box which amplifies sounds produced by air passing through the vocal chords and a brain which can interpret the sounds Fossils indicate speech came before written communication Writing systems are based on pictures and on an alphabet of letters Humans are self aware-we know we exist. Self awareness allows us to have an idea of what others may be thinking. Mirror test is a test for self awareness. Other self-aware animals include Chimpanzees, Oragnutans and dolphins

Family society
Humans impact on environment increased when people shifted from a nomadic, hunting gathering way of life to a more settled lifestyle based on permanent communities Farming, clearing tropical rainforest, building on greenfield sites and mining. Hunter gathers are nomadic and hunt for food; following the seasonal rains and migration of animals Bushmen have better: communication, keep tools, use fire to cook, meet other large groups for social gatherings and travel large distances Farming and domesticating animals allowed us to settle Hunting for bush meat, civil war and clearing the forests threatens the survival of the great apes in the wild

 Behaviour; how an animal responds to a stimulus Conditioning; Process where animals learn to associate a desired outcome with a stimulus that is not directly linked to the possibilities of the outcome Classical conditioning; animal learns without trying Operant conditioning; Animal learns to do something by being rewarded (or punished)

 Habituation; Getting used to a stimulus that you avoided. Believed to be the simplest type of learning. Animal stops responding to a stimulus that has no effect on it; it has learnt to ignore it. Form of learning that allows animals not to waste time and energy responding to a stimuli which might be alarming to begin with, but not harmful (birds on a scarecrow)

Imprinting
Form of learning that is not easily changedbonding (when an animal becomes attached to its owner, much easier to train, attachment reinforced by food and the owners company. It occurs during a sensitive period of the animals life (when young) imprinting improves chances of young animals surviving beyond early days of life because they follow their parents and parents mean a source of food, protection from predators and even shelter.

Domestication; The process of bringing animals under human control. Animals become tame
People use pets for Companionship Protection Reducing stress Assist with work Status Benefits of using animals: Easier to handle Less likely to injure each other Provide food Allow settlements to develop

Problems with using animals

Cruel Takes them out of their natural environment Harms and hurts them (medicine testing) However Intensively farming chicken means more food at cheaper more affordable prices, if they were not farmed like this then food prices would rise and this would effect the poorer population

Anthropomorphism
The way we describe animals, plants, and objects as having human characteristics Anthromorphic; giving animals/non-human objects human characteristics e.g.. Cartoon animal speaking

Behaviour

Explanation

Carnivores spend relatively little Meat contains lots of amino acids time eating so they can eat less Carnivores have developed Eyes at front of the head to judge excellent abilities to detect pray distances well Good hearing and sense of smell Powerful legs to chase prey Sharp teeth for catching and eating prey Sharp claws so they can catch and hold their prey Some carnivores hunt in packs Cooperate, surround prey making it easier to catch Share what they catch Some species hunts alone Do not have to share food, except when feeding close family members (tigers and foxes hunt alone)

Behaviour Herbivores spend a lot of time eating

Explanation So they can get enough of the nutrients (particularly amino acids) needed Plants do contain them but not a lot

Vertebrate herbivores often feed in large Successful evolutionary strategy. Weak groups called herds ones killed, herd as a whole survives. Vertebrate herbivores are constantly on the move in large groups Herbivores are good at avoiding predators Because they eat so much they need to move to new areas where there is food Tend to have strong legs to run Camouflaged (like zebra, stripes confuse predator) Eyes are on the side of their head giving them a wide field of vision Many have pointed horns and/or powerful hooves to fight off predators