1a Flashcards
define be
scientific study of animal actions or everything animals do in relation to physical enviro and other organisms (involves neuro and hormonal side)
Innate (4) and 2 examples of one
heritable
not adaptable
stereotypic and inflexible (stimulus will illicit response)
fully developed/ expressed when first occurs:
a)taxis/tropism- animal orientates in SPECIFIC sapatial location to stimulis
b)kinesis (non-directional movement to stimulus)
NOTE–> also reflexes and fixed action patterns
Learned behaviour define and (3) 4 mini examples
measurable change in an orgs behaviour as result of gaining skills/ knowledge
1) non heritable
2) adaptable
3) progressive - changes with time and experiance
- hjabituation
- conditioning (pavlos dogs), skinners box
- imprinting
- learning
who makes 4 why questions
Tinbergen
4 why questions - 2 main categories and the 4 questions
proximate- causal and deveol factors explains HOW indivi behaves partic way
ultimate0 factors influencing adaptive advantage and evolution -WHY has evolved
1)causation
2) development of ontogeny
3) Adaptive advantage / funtion
4)evo history/phylogeny
qu 1 and for starling singing in spring
causation (proximate)
Mechanisms: sensory and nervous systems, hormonal mechanisms, skeletal-muscular control
increasing length of day triggers changes in their hormones, or because the way air flows through the vocal apparatus and sets up membrane vibrations
COMPLEX SONG PERMITTED BY SYRINX
qu2 + starling
- DEVELOPMENT or ONTOGENY (proximate)
Genetic and developmental mechanisms
learned the songs from their parents and neighbours and have a genetic disposition to learn the song of their own species
qu 3 + starling
- ADAPTIVE ADVANTAGE or FUNCTION (ultimate)
Increasing reproductive success
Sing to attract mates for breeding
qu 4 and starling
- EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY or PHYLOGENY(ultimate)
Evolution from ancestors
evolved in starlings from their avian ancestors. The most primitive living birds make v simple sounds, so its reasonable to assume that the complex songs of starlings and other song birds have evolved from simpler ancestral calls
starling name
white crown sparrow
3 key figures 70s
Bill Hamilton
Robert Triver
John maynard smith
Bill hamilton (3)
kin slection
sex
sex ratios
Robert trivers (3)
reciprocation
parental investment
sex ratio
John maynard smith(2)
games theory
ESS
games theory
ESS
John Maynard smith
60s and early 70s what and who?
EMlen and Mac Arthur
optimal foraging
lion example 4 ques for females synchrous in oestrus - causal and functional explanation
Causal explanation (mechanisms)
Chemical cues? Pheromones?
Take-overs by males
Functional explanation (why these mechanisms have been favoured by Natural Selection)
Better cub survival
Young males survive better and have greater reproductive success when they leave a pride if in a group
lion example 4 qus :Young die when new males take over pride - causal and functiona lexplanations
causal-Abortion
Take-over males kill or evict young
funtional- Females come into aoestrus more quickly
Male removes older cubs which would compete with his young
what should ns lead to wrt behavioural strats
NS should lead to evoln of efficient (optimal) behavioural strategies for foraging, reproduction etc. to maximise survival and reproductive success
why are adaptations not perfect/ why is everything not an adaptation? 4
o Biological features may not be optimal (pleiotropy)
o Natural selection lags behind enviro change (host vs parasite arms race)
o Historical/devlmental constraints (humans wil never be able to fly)
o Gene flow and loss of local adaptation (mountain ibex dif mating times-loss of local adaptation when admixture)
pleiotropy example
development through indirect selection
ie spandrels
-spandrels are there due to arches
5 ways to test adaptations
1) observational studies
2) comparative approach
3) manipulation experiments
4) genetics approach
5) phenotypic modelling approach
observational studies
behaviour seen should be better than alternative if adaptation
example comparative approach (2)
a. Correlating species differences in behaviour with differences in ecology
i. Breeding behaviour of gulls in relation to predation risk**
Different traits of black headed gulls (breed on ground, high predation risk so when predator comes take flight, alarm calls, attack) and kittiwakes (breed on ledge steep cliffs, low predation risk, remain on nest till predator close, rarely alarm, weak attack)
Social organization in African ungulates **
Major correlate of diet and social organization is body size. Small species have higher metabolic requirement per unit weight so select high quality food, this tends to occur in the forest and are scattered in distribution so small species tend to be solitary
comparative approach studies limitations (3)
Problems interpreting comparative data
Quantification of ecological variables
Cause and effect?
comparative approach define
1 species versus another- ie sperm comp assumed higher in polgymous monkeys as more comp - larger testes?
manipulation experiments
manipulate variable of interest
genetics approach
a. Artificial selection experiments to show genetic basis
Phenotypic Modelling Approach
optimal models
ESS game theroy
enables reduction of variables to look at behaviour
phenotypic modelling extra info (2)
Ultimately the net benefit is measured in terms of gene contribution to future generations and depends on shorter term goals like foraging efficiency, mating success and efficiency of avoiding predation
Optimality models can be used to predict which particular TRADE-OFFS between costs and benefits give max net benefit
