Behavioral Patterns of Sticklebacks and Cowbirds

The video discusses the brook stickleback, a fish found in Kentucky, and its unique behaviors. It covers the fish's habitat, identification features, and its distinctive swimming and mating behaviors. The mating process is explained as a reaction chain, where one behavior triggers the next. Comparisons are made with other animal behaviors, highlighting how certain actions are instinctual. The video concludes with additional resources for further study.

Where is the brook stickleback primarily found?

• In tropical waters

• In Kentucky

• In desert regions

• In the Amazon River

What is a distinctive feature of the brook stickleback's swimming behavior?

• They swim in circles

• They swim backwards

• They vibrate their tail rapidly

• They glide smoothly

What triggers aggressive behavior in male sticklebacks during mating season?

• The presence of a female

• The smell of food

• The sound of water

• The color red

What is a reaction chain behavior?

• A single, isolated action

• A random set of movements

• A sequence where one behavior triggers the next

• A series of unrelated actions

How do male sticklebacks build their nests?

• By sweeping an area clean

• By using a secretion from their kidneys

• By digging a hole

• By collecting leaves

What behavior does a female stickleback exhibit to trigger the male's zigzag dance?

• Changing color

• Building a nest

• Singing a song

• Displaying a round belly

What is the purpose of the male stickleback's zigzag dance?

• To attract a female to the nest

• To mark territory

• To scare away predators

• To find food

What is a common feature of instinctual behaviors in animals?

• They are always conscious decisions

• They vary greatly between individuals

• They are triggered by specific stimuli

• They are learned over time

How do birds respond to objects near their nests?

• They pull them into the nest

• They destroy them

• They ignore them

• They fly away

What behavior do cowbird chicks exhibit to receive food from host parents?

• They hide in the nest

• They sing loudly

• They beg with open mouths

• They mimic the host's chicks