The Department of Animal Behavior What Is Ethology?

Have you ever wondered why our cute friends do some interesting moves? But how do living things in nature communicate with each other? Today we take a look at the science of ethology, which takes a closer look at the animal world.

Some ants circle around their nest, the bees follow the queen and send signals to each other by dancing. Elephants mourn and hold funeral rites. Some dogs are aggressive, while crows are very intelligent. Animals’ abilities Have you ever thought about how they communicate with each other?

Today, we leave the science among humans and move towards another science, leaving the laboratory and visiting the natural life. which has become a branch of zoology under the biology department. what is ethologywhat deals with the topic of our today’s article

What is ethology, what does it deal with?

What is ethology?

Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior, mostly in its natural conditions, including animal communication, predation, defense, aggression, mating, fixed action patterns, and migration. An important aspect of ethologyis the work against learning by instinct.

Ethology is generally considered part of biology, with ethologists (the title given to people interested in ethology) focusing on the evolution of behavior. Ethology is usually conducted in the field, but can also be conducted in the laboratory or through a combination of both. ‘ethogram’ It is through ethology that we have explanations of behaviors that are often used in research or animal behavior studies.

So what do ethologists do, what does ethology deal with?

  • pet training
  • Animal welfare and protection
  • Human safety in the face of animals
  • Studying animals in home, nature or laboratory settings
  • Collecting and analyzing data on observations and findings
  • Publish the results of their research and present at conferences
  • Educating the public about animals and animals and promoting animal welfare and protection

Because ethology is such a broad field of study, ethologists can specialize in any number of fields, including university research, agricultural animal husbandry, animal education, and animal care. The purpose of ethology The aim is to study the behavior of a particular group of animals, not theirs, and often explores how a single behavior pattern, such as aggression, manifests in different animals.

History of ethology:

Since ethology is a branch of biology, ethologists have been particularly interested in the evolution of behavior and how it can be explained in terms of natural selection. In some ways Charles Darwin dated 1872 The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals He was the first modern ethologist to influence countless ethologists with his book The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals. Scientifically unsupported anecdote of interest in behavior cognitiveism He continued by encouraging George Romanes, who studied learning and intelligence in animals using an anthropomorphic method called

The growth of the field of ethology II. It is based on its development on the European continent in the years leading up to World War II, thanks to the efforts of Niko Tinbergen and Konrad Lorenz. After the war, Tinbergen moved to Oxford University and ethology gained prominence in the United Kingdom thanks to the work of Robert Hinde, William Thorpe and Patrick Bateson in the Animal Behavior Sub-Department of Cambridge University. At the same time, ethology began to develop in North America during this period.

British ethologist in 1972 John H Crookdistinguished comparative ethology from social ethology, arguing that all previous ethology was comparative ethology (the study of animals as individuals); the behavior of the social groups of animals in later years and the social structure beneath them. Since the publication of EO Wilson’s book Sociobiology: The New Synthesis in 1975, behavioral research has focused much more on social factors. It’s also the stronger but much more subtle feel of Wilson, Robert Trivers, and WD Hamilton. Darwinism fueled by the concept. In summary, ethology has been transformed as a result of the associated development of behavioral ecology.

Conclusion: Why is ethology important?

Anyone with a new puppy or kitten knows that training can be difficult. By understanding the natural behavior of animals of certain species and breeds, you can better understand how to encourage desirable behaviors and deter unwanted ones. Whether you are teaching your puppy how to sit or toilet training, animal behavior Basic knowledge will take you far.

Ethology for anyone trying to protect vulnerable species It is a vital area. If you understand the natural behaviors of an animal species, you also understand how to keep them safe. For example, the California Vulture almost completely extinct because hunters did not know enough about its scavenging habits, and vultures ate the carcasses of animals killed by poisoned lead bullets. Understanding the behavior of wild species can help you protect vulnerable animal populations, from honeybees to seagulls.

Imagine you are in a cottage. Have you ever seen a dangerous wild animal while walking peacefully? Do you know how to react to stay safe and keep the animal calm? Having a basic knowledge of ethology can help you stay safe when encountering animals in any situation. Whether you see a bear, a rattlesnake, or a venomous spider, ethology is always present. can save your life.

Source :
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-ethology-exploring-the-study-of-animal-behavior#why-is-the-study-of-ethology-important


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