Animal Behaviour - Week 1


Animal Behaviour Basics

Studying animal behaviour looks at how anatomy and genetics link to an animal's behavioural responses. Both external and internal stimuli prompt behaviours in every species, from the weather and predation to hormones and hunger. 
Scientists are drawn to studying this topic for many reasons, though it is only very briefly touched upon in A level. Many scientists study this area of Biology as it helps to describe some human responses, for example by studying primates. Studies of altruism and group dynamics in other species may not only fascinate but suggest reasons for our own tendencies.
Humans have been documenting animal characteristics and behaviour since Homo sapiens started drawing on cave walls. There has always been a fascination with animals and a drive to understand them - often for our own use. However, more modern studies and research in genetics and physiology have improved our understanding further.
This MOOC will look at some of the scientists involved in animal behaviour research and their studies such as Pavlov, Lorenz and Skinner. It will also invite you to think about some of the ethical considerations behind their research and may ask you to draw some parallels between these 'basic' animal behaviours and ourselves. 

Week 1 - Social behaviour and communication

Animals that live in groups need to be able to communicate with each other; for examples humans communicate by talking to each other and bees communicate through dance. Some species of animal are described as social animals and they depend completely on one another. They work together for the good of the whole species. Bees and ants are good examples of these social animals.



Your task for this week is to research bees. Answer the questions below in a comment to share your findings on this.

  1. Why are bees and ants described as social animals?
  2. How do bees arrange their hives - do they have a hierarchy? 
  3. Find out about a scientist doing work on the behaviour of bees, what have they found out?
  4. Can the structure of a bee hive be likened to human behaviour in anyway? Why do think this? 
Some potentially useful links to start you off (feel free to look for others!):



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