Ethology and Applied Animal Behavior
Key Concepts
- Innate behaviors: Fixed action patterns, reflexes, instincts; governed by genetic and physiological mechanisms.
- Learning: Habituation, sensitization, classical and operant conditioning, observational learning.
- Social behavior: Dominance hierarchies (often misunderstood), territoriality, communication (visual, auditory, olfactory), affiliative behaviors.
- Developmental stages: Critical periods (e.g., socialization in dogs and cats), sensitive periods for learning.
- Evolutionary perspectives: Adaptive significance of behaviors, Tinbergen's four questions (mechanism, ontogeny, phylogeny, function).
- Applied ethology: Normal vs. abnormal behavior, stereotypies, behavioral needs (e.g., foraging, social contact).
Traps
- Misinterpreting dominance as always involving aggression; in many species, dominance is about priority access to resources with minimal conflict.
- Confusing stereotypies (repetitive, invariant) with compulsive disorders (often anxiety-driven).
- Overlooking the importance of species-specific behavioral needs in welfare assessments.
- Assuming that all behaviors are learned; many are innate and modified by experience.
Worked Example
A horse weaves in its stall (swaying side to side). This is a stereotypy, likely due to confinement and lack of foraging opportunities. It is not a sign of dominance or aggression. Rule of thumb: stereotypies indicate poor welfare and are performed to cope with stress; environmental enrichment and increased turnout are key interventions.