The scientific study of animal behavior is known as ethology. Ethologists investigate various aspects of behavior, including instinct, learning, and social interactions among animals. This field examines both innate behaviors, which are hardwired and instinctual, and learned behaviors, which result from experience and interaction with the environment. Ethology also explores how behavior affects survival and reproduction, linking behavioral patterns to evolutionary processes. Understanding animal behavior is crucial for a variety of applications, including wildlife conservation and understanding domestic animals.