Behavior
See Also: Behavior Materials List | Printable Page
This unit is all about behavior. I am sure you can think of many examples of behavior but what is it really? All behavior involves actions by organisms in response to particular situations. Behavior thus involves responses to stimuli or cues that may be internal (generated within the organism itself) as in an empty stomach generates hunger: an animal seeks food when it is hungry and a ‘hungry’ plant seeks sunlight as this is its source of energy. Actions may be in response to external cues as well. For instance, a rabbit freezes in place when it detects a predator and runs from a pursuing predator in a zig-zag pattern. Predator presence on the one hand and actions by a predator on the other cued the two responses in rabbits: freeze and run away in a zig-zag pattern.
In order for an animal or any organism for that matter to respond to internal and external cues, it also must have the means to detect these cues. Organisms vary in the extent to which they utilize vision, hearing, smell and touch in detecting objects and events. The senses like actions are components of behavior.
Finally, just as an organism’s size, shape and color adapts it to the environment in which it lives, behavior is adaptive and it too is inherited or passed on from parent to offspring. All organisms exhibit behavior, even bacteria, though, of course, it is most important to animals that are able to move in complex ways. In this unit, you will learn the ways in which behavioral traits contribute to the success of individuals and the species they represent. Part I examines the various senses and Part II environmental influences and learning.