Animal Intelligence

"What does it mean to say a creature is 'intelligent'?"


First of all, what is intelligence?  Well, intelligence is what determines how well (if at all) we will be able to decipher a problem.  It helps us to learn about the world in which we live, and it assists us in making this world better for all of us.  Without intelligence, the world would be completely chaotic.

Now that we have defined intelligence, we must tackle the question that asks, "What does it mean to say a creature is intelligent?".  I suppose it means that the creature can think about a problem, and find a solution that isn't simply based on instinct.

I will use two examples of animal intelligence today.  First of all, I will use the chimpanzee.  The chimpanzee has been known to "problem-solve" in peculiar ways.  Sometimes it will actually make tools for finding food! It will take a piece of grassy twig, remove the leaves, and then stick the grassy twig into a termite mound.  When it pulls out the grassy twig, there are generally several termites stuck to the grass.  In this way, the chimpanzee has used the grassy twig to "fish" for a termite snack.

The next example that I will use is the elephant.  They have been known to paint pictures, they form lasting bonds with family members, and they seem to exhibit self-recognition in mirrors!

Even though animals can't create spacecrafts, or create a car engine like us, they certainly seem to have intelligence to some degree.

Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think!      

Biology Essay 1

    As you probably know, the earth gets a huge amount of energy from the sun.  We are not able to get all of it though.  What does reach the earth's surface is obtained by organisms called producers.  Producers are able to use this energy to help them make their food.
    Now we come to consumers.  Consumers are creatures that need to consume the producers to get energy because they are not able to make their own food.

    Here is an important little bit of information.  When one creature eats another one, it does not get the same amount of energy that the other had.  It gains about ten percent of the energy.  Many animals starve for this reason.  When the energy is diminishing, it eventually runs out, and the animals are not able to use it.  If there is a change in primary producers or consumers, then bye bye animals that used to feed on them.  This is an example of how delicate our lives are.  One simple change, and our world can be turned upside down.  

    Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cite for this report:  Lesson One