Behavioural mechanisms

Abstract

As it goes about its business, an animal is exposed to many stimuli from its environment, some of which may advertise the presence and nature of a potential rival. These stimuli influence the way the animal behaves, causing it to initiate an agonistic exchange when appropriate and modifying what it does once a fight has started. However, an animal does not always respond identically even when it encounters the same opponent in the same circumstances; clearly factors within the animal itself also influence its behaviour. These two sources of control, the stimuli an animal receives from its environment and factors within its own body, together determine the course of events during an agonistic encounter. This chapter considers behavioural studies of how this dual system works.

• 1. What systems within the animal control the expression of agonistic behaviour?

• 2. How do environmental stimuli influence the state of these systems?

• 3. How do internal and external factors interact to produce the behavioural shifts that occur during a fight?

• 4. Is it possible to produce coherent explanations (or models) of when and how animals fight?