Question

Define and provide examples of behavior and the environment in observable and measurable terms.

A) Behavior is anything that happens in the body, and the environment is everything outside of the body.
B) Behavior is actions or reactions, and the environment is the surroundings or context.
C) Behavior is limited to vocalizations, and the environment refers to temperature and weather.
D) Behavior is thinking, and the environment is the physical space.

Answer 1

Behavior is the change in activity of an organism in response to stimuli, categorized into instinctual or learned. The environment encompasses both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements that organisms interact with. Observations of animal behavior in natural environments illustrate these interactions and changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Behavior and Environment

Behavior is defined as the change in activity of an organism in response to a stimulus. For example, a dog sits when commanded or a cat chases a mouse. These behaviors can be categorized as either instinctual/innate or learned. Instinctual behaviors, such as mating systems and communication methods, are not influenced by the environment. On the other hand, learned behaviors, such as imprinting, habituation, and cognitive learning, are influenced by environmental changes.

The environment refers to the surroundings or context in which an organism lives. This includes the biotic environment, with other living organisms, and the abiotic environment, which consists of non-living components like temperature and oxygen concentration. The environment not only affects how organisms behave but is also impacted by their actions.

Animal behavior and its connection to the environment can be observed in natural settings such as parks, zoos, or even school campuses. Interaction with the environment modifies animal behavior, and in turn, animals influence their surroundings.