Animal Behavior
The morphology, physiology, and behavior of organisms are tightly integrated or interconnected. In addition, all these characteristics of organisms can affect both an organism’s survival and its reproductive success. In other words, an organism’s behavior occurs directly, proximally, as a response to current stimuli and indirectly, ultimately, as the result of the process of natural selection or evolution of the species as a whole.
Along with reviewing animal behavior, we went over the first part of our packet.
1. Some plant species (for example orchids) rely on a single species of insect for pollination. If the insect species dies out, so will the plant species. In a through c, refer only to the behavior of the insect species.
a. What questions would you need to ask to determine proximate causation for this species-specific insect behavior?
An example question might be: Does the insect only take pollen from this specific plant?
b. What questions would you need to ask to determine ultimate causation for this insect behavior?
An example question might be: How did the insect learn to feed from the orchid?
c. What kinds of experiment(s) or investigation(s) would you propose to answer at least one of the questions in parts a and b?
An example experiment might be: What changes in the flower affect the insect’s interest?
Things to look at might be: Color, Time, Temperature, Pollen
2. Many bird species that are common in the northern United States during spring and summer fly south in the fall to overwinter and feed in Central or South America. In the spring, they return to states in the northern United states to breed.
a. What questions would you need to ask to determine proximate causation for this behavior?
An example question might be: How do birds know where to go when the seasons change?
b. What questions would you need to ask to determine ultimate causation for this behavior?
An example question might be: Why does this help the survival of the species?
c. What kinds of experiment(s) or investigation(s) would you propose to answer at least one of the questions in parts a and b?
An example experiment might be:What happens when the length of the day changes?
Things to look at might be: Places with different patterns (Alaska vs. Colorado)
Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere
Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions of organisms and their environments. These interactions can be studied at a variety of levels, ranging from the original organism to populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, biomes, and ultimately the entire biosphere. As a result, studying ecology requires that we integrate our understanding of the biology of organisms (for example cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, and physiology) with our understanding of the physical and chemical factors that affect the world and its climates.
Ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, their interactions with other organisms, and their interactions with their physical environment.
Biomes
The biosphere is divided into regions called biomes that exhibit common environmental characteristics. Each biome is occupied by unique communities or ecosystems of plants and animals that share adaptations, which promote survival within the biome.
Following is a list of major biomes and a summary of their characteristics:
1. Tropical Rain Forests have high temperatures and heavy rainfall. The vegetation consists predominantly of tall trees that branch only at their tops, forming a spreading canopy that allows little light to reach the forest floor. Epiphytes (plants that live commensally on other pants) and vines commonly grow on the trees, but due to lack of light, little grows on the forest floor.
2. Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees. Because savannas are tropical, they are subject to higher temperatures. However, they receive considerably less water than rainforests.
3. Temperate Grasslands have less water and are subject to lower temperatures than are savannas. The North American Prairie is an example.
4. Temperate Deciduous Forests occupy regions that have warm summers, cool winters, and moderate precipitation. Deciduous trees shed their leaves during the winter and adaptation to poor growing conditions (short days and cold temp).
5. Deserts are hot and dry. Growth of annual plants is limited to short periods following rains. Other plants have adapted to hostile conditions with leathery leaves, deciduous leaves, or leaves reduced to spies (cacti). Many animals have thick skins, conserve water by producing no urine or very concentrated urine, and restrict their activity to nights.
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is an ultimate causation question?
a. Why do birds migrate?
b. What attracts insects to flowers?
c. What causes an animal to run from a predator?
2. Which biome includes epiphytes?
a. Deserts
b. Savannas
c. Tropical Rain Forests
3. Which of the following is not a learning and problem solving technique?
a. Imprinting
b. Cognition
c. Altruism
Answers
1. a, 2. c, 3. c
Here is some helpful Vocab
Proximate Causation: "How" a behavior occurs or is modified
Ultimate Causation: "Why" a behavior occurs in the context of natural selection
Sign Stimulus: An external cue that works as a trigger
Imprinting: the formation at a specific stage of a long-lasting behavior response to a stimulus
Ecology: the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment
Biotic: living factors
Abiotic: nonliving factors
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