Ethology - the science of animal behavior

Man happens to observe the behavior of animals, to try to understand and decipher their language. There is a special science about the behavior of animals. About it and the objects of its study will be discussed in the article.

What science studies animal behavior?

The behavior of animals from the point of view of biological bases, adaptation of the animal to the habitat is studied by ethology. The term in Greek means "study of character." This is the science of the behavior of animals in natural conditions. People, professionally engaged in studying the habits of animals, ethologists, pay special attention to genetically fixed behavior. They also study those forms of animal behavior that are explained by experience accumulated in the process of historical development. From the time of its foundation zoologists K. Lorenz and N. Tinbergen, the science of animal behavior sets itself the following tasks:

• Identify the causes of behavioral acts of animals;
• To learn how the behavioral act takes place in the individual development of the animal;
• To find out what significance it has in the life of the beast;
• To understand how the evolution of the behavioral act took place.

The questions of ethology are clear, and disputes arise about the methods of research. Some scientists believe, and most of them, that it is possible to conduct observations only in natural conditions. The point of view of the supporters of anthropogenic ethology is reduced to recognizing the right to observe animals in the environment of human activity. Others believe that ethology has the right to use the methods of experimental zoopsychology: modeling, experiments, experiments.

Behavior of animals

Ethologists study behavior as a multifaceted interaction of animals with the surrounding world. Behavior implies any activity that an individual displays. It is defined by two concepts: a unitary response and a biological form of behavior. The combination of reflexes characterizes a unitary reaction. A biological form of behavior is a complex behavior, corresponding to life phases, for example, food, defensive, research, parental, and others.

Due to observations of animals in the natural environment, the science of animal behavior has determined that, for example, dogs eat liquid food and standing water, and hard pieces eat lying down, is eating behavior. Caring for their offspring in the midst of polar bears, when a bear lays for a few months with cubs in a den, feeds them, exhausting their supplies, are observations of parental behavior.

Where are the observations of ethologists applied?

Ethological knowledge is needed, mainly, to describe the behavior of animals. The methods used by ethologists in the work make it possible to detail the existing knowledge about animals, to expand the ideas about their behavior.

The science of animal behavior provides the knowledge necessary in animal husbandry. Ethological observations of female offspring allow breeders to determine when deliveries are expected. For example, seeing that the cow has become restless, constantly changing location, trying to retire, the breeder realizes that it is necessary to prepare for the appearance of a new member of the farm. Observations of the behavior of horses indicate the complex nature of these animals. A farmer or a trainer must take into account ethological knowledge, which indicates that horses are very choosy in humans. They respond with trustfulness and obedience only to those who take care of them, respects and praises them.

Without ethological knowledge, trainers are hard. Data on the passive defense response in animals, which gives an ethology (the science of animal behavior), allow to avoid accidents. So, seeing the numbness and immobility of a tiger, the trainer calms the beast so that it does not attack. When working with huskies, the trainer must take into account the results of the ethology, which indicate that these animals do not have such a reaction - they immediately manifest malice - an active defensive reaction.

Interesting ethological observations

Some observations of animals are very interesting.

• If the otters lie on the water belly up and hold their paws, then they are asleep.
• Puppies-boys in games with puppies-girls often specifically lose, giving them the opportunity to rejoice in victory.
• There are animals, for example, proteins, which take on the upbringing of the young of another female.
• Cows are true friends. They are able to be friends, with a friend spend most of their time, communicate with him, take care of him.