PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR

NOVI MAYASARI

Adapted from Dr Mike Wride, School of Natural Sciences, Zoology Department

Outline
• Physiological mechanisms
• Hormones and behaviour

• Homeostasis

• Environmental influences on behaviour : (1) Conformers and adaptor – thermoregulation (2)

Effects of stress on behaviour

• Water balance

• Feeding behaviour
Text book
• David McFarland (1999) Animal Behaviour 3rd Ed. Chapters 15 and 16
• Chris Barnard (2004) Animal Behaviour: Mechanism, Development,
Function and Evolution. Chapters 3.3, 4 and 5

• Principles of Animal Behaviour (2009). 2nd Ed. Lee Alan Dugatkin Chapter 3
Physiological Mechanisms
Two major mechanisms in body
• Nervous System coordination/ integration of sensory
and motor systems in the organism
• Hormones - endocrine system affects sensitive tissues
at distant sites within the body
Personality : shy and bold
Hormones and Behaviour
Hormones can trigger a
new behaviour or modify
an existing behaviour or
they can ‘prime’ the
organism to respond to a
particular environmental
situation that might arise
in the future
Testosterone and Aggression
Changing Environments
• Animals initiate steps to deal with physical demands of changing
environments
• To maintain survival and ability to reproduce
• Two principles:
• Tolerance - extent to which extremes can be tolerated (e.g.
temperature, salinity)
• Acclimatization - physiological adaptation to changing
environments
Homeostasis and Behaviour
• Homeostasis: maintenance of internal environment
of an animal
• “An animal that is able to regulate its internal environment
(maintain homeostasis), in the face of fluctuations in the
external environment, has greater freedom to exploit a variety
of potential habitats” Claude Bernard (1859)
2 Types ofAnimals
• Conformers: change internal environment to match external
environment
• Regulators: maintain internal environment at a steady state
Internal sensors monitor the internal state of the body and initiate
appropriate responses to return the body to the steady state when
deviations from it occur
Responses of Invertebrates to reduction
in temp
• Some invertebrates (cold blooded - conformers): reduce their
activity when external temperature falls
• Other invertebrates (e.g. common woodlouse, millipede) maintain
a body temperature higher than the environment
Responses ofVertebrates to Reduction in
Temperature
• Warm blooded (endotherms) - shivering, increased food
intake (to create more heat)
• Cold blooded (exotherms)- gain heat from external sources
(e.g. sun)
• May change colour e.g. Desert iguana
Dark in am and gets lighter as the day progresses
Homoeothermic vs. Poikilothermic
 Thermoregulation
• Most animals
have optimal
body
temperature
• Function
most
efficiently at
this
temperature
Thermoneutral zone
Approaches in response to change in
internal body temperature
• Employ specialised physiological mechanisms
• Change behaviour
Both depend on thermoreceptor - detecting internal and external
body temperature
Solutions to Increase in Temp:
Overheating
Cooling mechanisms required

• Conduction: direct loss of heat

• Convection: blood flow to periphery

• Radiation: proportional to temp

difference between internal and
external

• Evaporation: energy associated

with water loss
Examples of control of Heat Loss by
Changes in Behaviour
• Fiddler crabs, ground squirrels - and other burrowing animals - make sorties
between cool burrows and warm external environment to cool off

• Panting in birds and mammals - when potentially lethal temperature

approaches

• Namib desert lizard - burrows into the sand when midday temp goes above
40oC
Effects of heat stress on behaviour in
cows
The Hypothalamic- Pituitary-
Adrenocortical (HPA) System

p274, McFarland;Fig 15.11

Affect of ACTHon Adrenal Cortex
• Synthesis and secretion of corticosteroids
• Activation of carbohydrate metabolism
• Regulation of adrenalin production in adrenal medulla
• Autonomic nervous system and HPA system closely linked
• Effective response to stressors - coping
Water Homeostasis
Hypothalamus triggers release posterior pituitary to release ADH (Anti-diuretic
hormone)

Two major mechanisms:

• Water conservation
• Thirst
Water Conservation Mechanisms: ADH -
water retention

P268 McFarland, Fig15.8

ExtracellularThirst: Hypovolaemia

p268 McFarland, Fig15.7

Feeding behaviour
• Process of
digestion and
pattern of eating
often related
• Central control of
feeding behaviour
related to energy
and nutrients
Example of feeding behaviour
Ruminating time in dairy cows
Any question?