How do innate and learned behaviours differ?

Innate behaviours are characterised by inherent and instinctive behaviours that come natural to an organism and were not learned through their life cycle. Innate behaviours tend to be quick and effective, and have evolved to increase the survival or reproductive capabilities of animals. Examples of innate behaviours include the locomotor behaviours of taxis and kinesis. Crustaceans move at elevated speeds when in dry and hot conditions to avoid drying out. Butterflies use phototaxis in some migratory patterns.Learned behaviour is when a behaviour was not inherited but was learned by the organism in their life cycle. Behaviours may be learned through conditioning both operant or classical. Examples of learnt behaviour include the association of sound and food in Pavlov's dog experiments.

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Answered by George B. Biology tutor

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