Ethology
(noun)
The scientific study of animal behavior, including the examination of both innate and learned behaviors and their biological and environmental causes.
Origin:
From greek ἦθος (ēthos, "character, custom") + -λογία (-logia, "study o.f")
Examples:
- Ethology is a branch of biology that studies animal behavior, including how and why animals behave in certain ways.
- Ethologists often study the behavior of animals in their natural habitats, in order to understand the adaptive significance of different behaviors.
- Ethology is concerned with the evolutionary and genetic basis of behavior, as well as the environmental and social factors that influence behavior.
- Ethologists have studied a wide range of animal behaviors, including mating, aggression, communication, and social organization.
- Ethological studies have led to a greater understanding of the complex relationships between animals and their environments.