An Introduction to Behavioral Monitoring-Effects of Nonylphenol and Ethinylestradiol on Swimming Behavior of Juvenile Carp

Abstract

Before entering the complex field of behavioral monitoring one has to consider biological functions of behavior. Behavior has to do with ecological adaptation of organisms to their environment, and with the intra- and extraspecific interactions of individuals. There are many different purposes of behavior, which is determined by evolution. The most organisms have innate behavior mechanisms which allow them to adapt to almost every situation occurring in their life and environment. The more subtle these mechanisms are differentiated, connected with a higher flexibility of reactions, the more the animal will be successful in its struggle for life, even under changing environmental conditions. These innate behavior mechanisms are permanent under evolutionary selection. The differences between “fixed action patterns” in the sense of Lorenz (1950) and “modes of action patterns” in the sense of Marler and Hamilton(1960) will not be discussed here.Barlow (1968) argues: “if the fixed action pattern is to be used to generate models of use to the neurophysiologist, we must examine it closely to see if it qualifies as a basic unit of behavior”.One of this criteria to answer this question is to analyze if there is a variability in the pattern. The behavior patterns we can use for behavioral monitoring have all the certain range of variability. So we like to follow the suggestion of Barlow: “It might be wise to drop the term fixed from the action pattern.”