| A | B |
|---|
| Optimal Behavior | a behavior that maximizes individual fitness |
| Ultimate causation | the evolutionary reason for the existence of a behavior |
| Proximate causation | the immediate cause and/or mechanism underlying a behavior |
| Fixed action pattern | a highly stereotypes, innate, behavior |
| Sign Stimulus | an external sensory stimulus which triggers a fixed action pattern |
| Supernormal stimulus | an artificial stimulus that elicits a stronger response than naturally |
| Learning | any modification of behavior by experience |
| Maturation | development of neuro-muscular systems that allows behavioral improvement |
| Habituation | Learning to ignore irrelevant stimuli or stimuli that do not provide proper feedback |
| Imprinting stimulus | an object in the environment to which the response is directed |
| Critical Period | A limited time during which imprinting can occur |
| Associative Learning | the learning process where animals associate one stimulus with another |
| Classical Conditioning | A type of associative learning where a specific, or conditioned response is elicited by a specific stimulus |
| Operant Conditioning | A type of associative learning by trial and error |
| Observational learning | the ability of animals to learn by observing the actions of others |
| Play | A behavior with no apparent goal which uses movements closely associated with goal-directed behaviors |
| Insigt learning | the ability of animals to perform appropriate behaviors on the first attempt in situations with which they have no prior experience |
| Cognition | Knowing, including awareness and judgment |
| Behaviorism | A mechanistic approach which describes behavior in terms of stimulus and response |
| Cognitive ethology | A view that sees consious thinking as an inherent part of animal behavior |
| Kinesis | a change in activity rate in response to stimulus |
| Taxis | a directed movement toward or away from a stimulus |
| migration | the seasonal movement of animals over long distances |
| piloting | movement of animals from one landmark to another |
| Orientation | Movement of animals along a compass line |
| Navigation | the ability of animals who can orient along compass lines to determine their location in relation to their destiniation |
| Search Image | the abitily of a generalist feeder to learn the key visual charaters of a prey item |
| Agonistic behavior | a contest of threat displays which continues until a participant submits and yields access to a resource |
| Ritual | symbolic behavior that minimizes the possibility of serious injury to the antagonists |
| Dominance Hierarchy | A linear social orgainization within a group |
| Territory | an area defended from conspecifics typically for feeding, mating, rearing young etc. |
| Courtship | complex rituals associated with mating |
| Parental Investment | the time and resources an individual species expends to produce an offspring |
| Polygyny | A mating system in which one male mates with multiple females |
| Polyandry | a mating system in which one female mates with multiple males |
| Communication | the intentional transmission of information between individuals |
| Altruistic Behaviors | A behavior that reduces an individuals personal welfare, but benefits others |
