title: Revisiting the concept of behavior patterns in animal behavior with an example from food-caching sequences in wolves (Canis lupus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).
abstract: We discuss the history, conceptualization, and relevance of behavior patterns in modern ethology by explaining the evolution of the concepts of fixed action patterns and modal action patterns. We present the movement toward a more flexible concept of natural action sequences with significant degrees of (production and expressive) freedom. An example is presented with the food caching behavior of three Canidae species: red fox (Vulpes vulpes), coyote (Canis latrans) and gray wolf (Canis lupus). Evolutionary, ecological, and neuroecological/neuroethological arguments are presented to explain the difference in levels of complexity and stereotypy between Canis and Vulpes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Canine Behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, PO BOX 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4R2. Electronic address: Simon.gadbois@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gadbois
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, PO BOX 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4R2. Electronic address: olivia.sievert@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sievert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, PO BOX 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4R2. Electronic address: reevecat@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3M 2J6. Electronic address: fred.harrington@msvu.ca.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.affiliation: 30312 Fox Hollow Road, Eugene, OR 97405, United States. Electronic address: john.fentress@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fentress
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D046029:Coyotes; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes; D008297:Male; D019596:Wolves
keywords: Action sequence; Coyotes; Fixed action pattern; Food caching sequences; Red foxes; Wolves