Behavioural Ecology
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What’s the concept of Tinbergens four questions
Tinbergen’s four questions are a framework used in biology to help researchers analyze and understand behavior.
Tinbergens 4 questions
Causation Development Function Phylogeny
Why study animal behaviour
Understand animals better Help protect them Learn more about humans
What is behavioural ecology
The study of evolutionary basis of behaviour due to ecological pressures
Causation
What is the cause of this behaviour - (Focuses on the proximate cause) - What are the immediate environmental or physiological factors that are triggers for that behaviour
Example of causation question
For example, what specific stimuli in the environment trigger a particular behavior or what hormonal changes lead to the behavior.
What is causation also known as
Mechanism
Development
How has this behaviour developed over time - considers how behaviour changes from birth to adulthood - focuses on the proximate development
Example of development question
For example, how does experience or learning shape behavior over time.
What is development also known as
Ontogeny
What is ontogeny
Ontogeny refers to the process of an organism’s development from conception to maturity.
Function
Why does this behaviour serve the animals survival and reproduction - focuses on the adaptive value of behaviour
Example of function question
For example, how does a particular behavior help an animal find food, avoid predators, or mate successfully.
What is function also known as
Adaptation
Phylogeny
Considers how the behaviour has ultimately changed over time - How and why has the behaviour changed over generations through natural selection
Example of phylogeny question
For example, how did the behavior originate and evolve in the animal’s ancestral history, and how has it changed to adapt to new environments or selective pressures.
What is phylogeny also known as
Evolution
Causation of animals fighting
• what mechanisms cause an animal to perform this behaviour • what an organisms structures are like and how they work • which stimuli elicit and control the behaviour (short term) • physiology/ neurobiology
Causation of animals fighting Pt2
Visual stimulus (rival for territory) Hormones: Increased testosterone (raises aggression levels) Use there claws teeth to fight
Development of animals fighting
How does this behaviour arise as animal grows (during its life time) Genetic and environment are factors that will influence the development of a behaviour
Development of animals fighting Pt2
Visual signals can develop though life to show dominance, or tendency to aggression Animals can learn to fight through play and develop fighting skill -they can also learn to asses other animals and there fighting ability Motivation - increased levels of testosterone may develop at key times to increase aggression (when finding territory)
Function of animals fighting
What is the current adaptive purpose How does it help the animal survive or breed
Function of animals fighting Pt 2
To defend territory To mate Tu gain greater reproductive success
Phylogeny of animals fighting
How did this behaviour evolve Are similar behaviours observed in related species Has the evolutionary process led to a failure to achieve optimal design because of evolutionary constraints