Question

Choose any behavior in any animal you wish (one that we have not discussed at length in class) and explain that behavior from each of Tinbergen’s four levels of causation (proximate, ontogenetic, adaptive value, evolution).

Answer 1

Tinbergen’s four levels of causation also known as Nikolaas Tinbergen? categories of explanation for behaviour. Which is meant in later stage and becomes the part of study called as level of analysis. The Tinbergen’s four levels are

1. Function or adaptation

?2. Phylogeny or evolution

?3. Mechanism or causation

?4. Ontogeny or development.

?This can be well understood in case of sniffer dogs? or an animal for example dog becomes a pet of a human.

In this sense both are the category of dogs but each of dog has got a different work and they are very much aware their work in presence of given specific situation. For example the sniffer dogs? are known to use in forensic lab or crime investigation whereas the other dog will follow always his human master for whatever he says.

In those example one common category is that both have got training since begining from their human masters and this training has made a gradual change in their behaviour which has come through Adaptation, evolution, mechanism followed by development of specific characters (Obeying rules of human master) in fixed condition (Providing specific training for particular time).