Ethology Concepts Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is ethology?

The study of animal behaviors, especially innate behaviors that occur in a natural habitat.

Who is Charles Darwin?

He made the concept of evolution scientifically plausible by asserting that natural selection was at its core.

Who were all the major figures in ethology that shared the Nobel Prize in 1973?

Konard Lorenz, Nikolaas Tinbergen, and Karl von Frisch.

Who was the founder of ethology?

Konard Lorenz. Signup and view all the answers

Through extensive work with animal social relationships, Lorenz discovered the phenomenon of _______.

Imprinting. Signup and view all the answers

What is releasing stimuli?

A releasing stimulus in one individual of a species elicits an automatic, instinctual chain of behaviors from another individual in the same species. Signup and view all the answers

What are fixed action patterns?

Instinctual, complex chains of behavior triggered by releasing stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four defining characteristics of fixed action patterns?

They are uniform patterns, performed by most members of the species, more complex than simple reflexes, and cannot be interrupted. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Nikolaas Tinbergen?

He was one of the founders of modern ethology. Signup and view all the answers

What is Tinbergen best known for?

His use of models in naturalistic settings and continuing Lorenz's work with releasing stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

Which experiments is Tinbergen most famous for?

Involved stickleback fish and herring gull chicks. Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of supernormal sign stimulus?

Artificial stimuli that exaggerate the naturally occurring sign stimulus or releaser, making them more effective. Signup and view all the answers

Who was a major figure in the study of animal behavior?

Karl von Frisch, he also studied the senses of fish. Signup and view all the answers

What is Karl von Frisch most famous for?

The discovery that honeybees communicate through a dance that they perform. Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term fight or flight and homeostasis?

Walter Cannon. Signup and view all the answers

What did Walter Cannon refer to in regards to fight or flight?

The change of an animal's internal state in an emergency situation that triggers that animal to choose fight or flight. Signup and view all the answers

According to Walter Cannon, what is homeostasis?

The regulation of the body to maintain equilibrium. Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of heredity?

Genes. Signup and view all the answers

What are genes composed of and where are they organized?

DNA molecules organized in chromosomes. Signup and view all the answers

The nucleus of human cells contains ____ of chromosomes.

23 pairs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ethology

Ethology is the study of animal behaviors, particularly innate behaviors occurring in natural habitats.

Key Figures in Ethology

Charles Darwin contributed to the scientific plausibility of evolution through the concept of natural selection.
Konard Lorenz is recognized as the founder of ethology and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1973 along with Nikolaas Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch.
Nikolaas Tinbergen was a pivotal figure in modern ethology, known for his research on releasing stimuli and its effects on animal behavior.
Karl von Frisch is famous for his research on communication in honeybees, particularly the discovery of the "waggle dance."

Imprinting and Behavior

Imprinting is a phenomenon discovered by Lorenz through his studies of animal social relationships.
Releasing stimuli trigger automatic, instinctual behavior chains in other individuals of the same species.
Fixed action patterns are instinctual behavior chains activated by releasing stimuli, characterized by their uniformity and complexity.

Characteristics of Fixed Action Patterns

Uniform across individuals.
Commonly performed by most species members.
More complex than simple reflexes.
Cannot be interrupted once initiated.

Tinbergen’s Contributions

Developed models in naturalistic settings to study behavior.
Famous experiments involved stickleback fish and herring gull chicks.
Introduced the concept of supernormal sign stimuli, which are exaggerated artificial stimuli that elicit stronger responses than natural stimuli.

Walter Cannon’s Concepts

Coined the terms "fight or flight" and "homeostasis."
Fight or flight refers to an animal’s internal state change in emergencies, prompting a choice between confronting or fleeing from threats.
Homeostasis denotes the body's regulation to maintain stability and equilibrium.

Genetics

Genes are the basic units of heredity composed of DNA molecules organized in chromosomes.
The nucleus of human cells contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, defining genetic inheritance.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the field of ethology, the study of animal behaviors, and learn about significant figures like Charles Darwin and Nobel laureates in the discipline. This quiz covers essential definitions and contributions to ethology. Challenge yourself and deepen your understanding of animal behavior!