Innate+and+Learned+Behavior+(E3)

complete readings and activities for E.3.1 through E.3.3 for 4/19/12

(pages 326-328 and 334, 335 in Tiger book)
 * all of the following are addressed in these pages but please read/watch/listen to the rest of the resources provided.

read pages 326-328 in Tiger book
Innate behaviour develops independently of the environmental context, whereas learned behaviour develops as a result of experience.
 * E.3.1 Distinguish between innate and learned behaviour.**
 * **read** about innate behavior


 * E.3.2 Design experiments to investigate innate behaviour in invertebrates, including either a taxis or a kinesis.**
 * You've conducted these experiments.

Taxis and Kinesis
Examples include: • taxis—Planaria move towards food (chemotaxis) and Euglena move towards light (phototaxis) • kinesis—woodlice move about less in optimum (humid) conditions and more in an unfavourable (dry) atmosphere.


 * E.3.3 Analyse data from invertebrate behaviour experiments in terms of //the effect on chances of survival and reproduction//.**
 * **Think** back to your isopods experiment. How does the behavior you researched effect survival and reproduction of the species?

4/19/12

 * ==Complete readings, etc. for E.3.4 to E.3.6, by Friday (4/20)==


 * E.3.4 Discuss how the process of learning can improve the chance of survival.**

The terms unconditioned stimulus, conditioned stimulus, unconditioned response and conditioned response should be included. >
 * E.3.5 Outline Pavlov’s experiments into conditioning of dogs.**
 * **watch** animation here and **try** the Pavlov game here


 * E.3.6 Outline the role of inheritance and learning in the development of birdsong in young birds.**
 * **complete** [[file:birdsong worksheet.pdf]]

4/20/12

 * ==Complete readings, etc. for E.6.1 to E.6.7, by Tuesday (4/24)==
 * ==test on E.3.1-E.3.6 Monday (4/23)==

**E.6.1 Describe the social organization of honey bee colonies and one other non-human example.**

 * **read** about honey bee organization
 * **read** about [|elephant] family structure
 * **watch** colonial shrimp video
 * **read** about naked mole rats


 * E.6.2 Outline how natural selection may act at the level of the colony in the case of social organisms.**

In the science of [|ethology] (the study of animal behaviour), and more generally in the study of [|social evolution], altruism refers to behaviour by an individual that increases the [|fitness] of another individual while decreasing the fitness of the actor. (wikipedia)
 * E.6.3 Discuss the evolution of altruistic behaviour using two non-human examples.**
 * Natural selection ** is the gradual, nonrandom process by which [|biological traits] become either more or less common in a [|population] as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of [|evolution].
 * Evolution ** is any change across successive [|generations] in the [|heritable] [|characteristics] of [|biological] [|populations] . Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every [|level of biological organisation], including [|species] , [|individual organisms] and [|molecules] such as [|DNA] and [|proteins].
 * Altruism:**
 * **read** kin selection vs. group selection
 * **read** the paradox of altruism
 * **find and outline** one other example of altruism in non-human organisms


 * E.6.4 Outline two examples of how foraging behaviour optimizes food intake, including bluegill ﬁsh foraging for Daphnia.**
 * ** Foraging ** is the act of searching for and exploiting food resources. It affects an animal's [|fitness] because it plays an important role in an animal's ability to survive and reproduce. (wikipedia)
 * ** Optimal foraging theory ** is an idea in [|ecology] based on the study of [|foraging] [|behaviour] and states that [|organisms] forage in such a way as to maximize their net [|energy] intake per unit time. In other words, they behave in such a way as to find, capture and consume [|food] containing the most [|calories] while expending the least amount of time possible in doing so. The understanding of many ecological concepts such as [|adaptation], energy flow and [|competition] hinges on the ability to comprehend what food items animals select, and why. (wikipedia)
 * **watch** bluegill foraging Daphnia tutorial -- How does the bluegill strategy maximize energy input per unit time?
 * **watch** dolphin mud ring feeding -- How does the strategy maximize energy input per unit time?


 * E.6.5 Explain how mate selection can lead to exaggerated traits.**

**For each example below, briefly outline how the trait probably evolved (through your own reasoning or research).**

 * **watch** peacock’s tail feathers.
 * **read** giraffe necks and **watch** neck fighting!
 * **watch** tungara frogs
 * **check out** celebs crested macaque


 * E.6.6 State that animals show rhythmical variations in activity.**


 * E.6.7 Outline two examples illustrating the adaptive value of rhythmical behaviour patterns.**
 * bats feeding at night to capture prey that come out at night
 * fiddler crabs coordinating mating to coincide with phases of the moon and therefore tidal patterns

4/23/12

 * ==Complete readings, etc. for E.6.1 to E.6.7, by Tuesday (4/24)==
 * ==test on E.3.1-E.3.6 today==
 * discuss altruism; read altruism article from Wired (The Paradox of Altruism)

4/24/12

 * discuss the rest of behavior
 * introduce psychoactive drugs
 * == test on E.6.1-E.6.7 Thursday (4/26) ==

4/25/12

 * discuss the rest of behavior
 * review for test on 4/26
 * psychoactive drugs
 * == test on E.6.1-E.6.7 tomorrow (4/26) ==