Nikolaas Tinbergen (15 April 1907 – 21 December 1988) was a Dutch biologist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973 for his pioneering work in the field of ethology, which is the scientific study of animal behavior.
Life and Career
Nikolaas Tinbergen was born on 15 April 1907, in The Hague, Netherlands. He studied biology at the University of Leiden, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1929 and his Doctorate in Zoology in 1932.
After completing his Ph.D., Tinbergen worked as a lecturer in Zoology at the University of Leiden before moving to England in 1949 to take up a position at the University of Oxford. He continued to teach and conduct research there until his retirement in 1974.
His early research on the behavior of stickleback fish helped to establish the field of ethology. He observed that male sticklebacks would attack anything with a red underside during the breeding season, even if it was not a potential mate. Tinbergen went on to conduct further research on this behavior, which helped to establish the concept of “innate releasing mechanisms” or IRMs, which are the cues that trigger instinctive behaviors in animals.
He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior. His research focused on understanding the innate behavior patterns of animals, and he developed a method for studying animal behavior called “ethogramming,” which involves observing and recording the various behaviors exhibited by an animal in its natural habitat.
He also made important contributions to the field of ornithology, the study of birds. He was particularly interested in the behavior of birds during their breeding season and conducted research on a wide range of bird species, including gulls, herring gulls, and black-headed gulls. His studies of gull behavior helped to establish the idea that animals have an innate sense of timing that is critical to their survival.
He also wrote several influential books on animal behavior, including “The Study of Instinct” and “Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach,” which he co-authored with his colleague, Robert Hinde.
He died on 21 December 1988 in Oxford, England.
Award and Legacy
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973, along with Konrad Lorenz and Karl von Frisch, for their pioneering work in the field of ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior.
His legacy in the field of ethology is significant. He helped to establish the field and develop methods for studying animal behavior, such as ethogramming. His research on the behavior of stickleback fish and gulls helped to establish the concept of innate releasing mechanisms and the idea that animals have an innate sense of timing.
Today, Tinbergen is remembered as one of the pioneers of ethology and a key figure in the study of animal behavior. His work continues to inspire scientists and students around the world, and his legacy is an important part of the history of science.