1. Natural Selection and Behaviour

Question 1

What is a proximate explanation?

Answer 1

How

Question 2

What is an ultimate explanation?

Answer 2

Why

Question 3

Why do starlings sing in spring?

Proximate and Ultimate explanation

Answer 3

P = Increasing day length triggers changes in hormone levels which stimulate areas of brain responsible for singing
U = To attract mates

Question 4

Why do banded mongooses synchronize birth?

Answer 4

P = Oxytocin surge in dominant female triggers similar surge in other females, leading to synchronous parturition
U = Subordinate females synchronize with dominants to maximize the survival chances of their young

Question 5

What is parturition?

Answer 5

The act of giving birth to young

Question 6

What three conditions did Darwin postulate were required for evolution?

Answer 6

Variation
Inheritance
Differences

Question 7

How can genes affect behaviour?

Answer 7

Genes rarely code ‘for’ a behaviour. But genetic differences often cause a difference in behaviour

Question 8

Why might animals behave non-adaptively?

Answer 8

Physical constraints
Evolutionary lag
Cost effectiveness
Co-evolution may lead to an outcome that is suboptimal for everyone

Question 9

How is optimal behaviour described?

Answer 9

Something which maximises the fitness of the individual whilst keeping the costs low.
Depends on trade-offs