Animal Behavior

Though we often spend much time in biology discussing the anatomy and physiology of animals, their behavior is also quite important. An animal’s behavior can have a major effect on its ability to survive, work as a group, and get mates.

For many animals their behavior is an important part of maintaining their physiological processes. For instance, lizards, in order to maintain a constant body temperature, must ‘shuttle’ between shady and sunny areas. In fact, many reptiles spend most of their time engaging in this shuttling behavior.

Many animals are social, which means they work closely in groups with other members of their species. Wolves, for instance, are pack hunters. A lone wolf can survive, but only as a pack are they capable of bringing down large prey like a moose. In order for them work efficiently as a group, a strict hierarchy must be kept. That hierarchy is reinforced by a complex set of behaviors, which demonstrate which individual is dominant and which is submissive.

Finally, behavior is also an integral part of getting a mate. In many organisms, such as birds, mating behavior is quite complex. This behavior is important because it is often necessary for an individual, usually the male, to signal that he his healthy, mature, and a good mate to choose. In some organisms, such as spiders, mating behavior is extremely important to the survival of the male. If he does not perform the behavior correctly, then the much larger female may not recognize him as the same species as her and then eat the male.