Animal Behavior

Animal behavior can be inherited through genes, or it can be learned through interactions with the environment. Behavior that is influenced by genes is molded by natural selection and other evolutionary forces. As a result, most genetically based behaviors should increase the fitness, or reproductive success, of the individual. Pheromones, that are chemicals used for communication, mimicry, which is an example of coevolution, or the evolution of one species in response to new adaptations that appear in another species, and instinct behavior, which is a behavior that is inherited through genes, may be described and their selective advantages may be discussed.…