3.6 social behaviour Flashcards
Social groups adapted behaviours
Social hierarchy
Co-operative hunting
Social denfence
Social hierarchy definition
Where individuals of the same species work in groups and individuals within the group have different ranks.
Ranks in social hierarchy
Dominant and subordinate
Dominant members characteristic
Organisms which carry out ritualistic and threatening displays.
Typically stronger than subordinates and have better genetic traits.
Ritualistic behaviours def
Where a dominant individual carries out threatening displays to scare away other individuals .
Subordinate members characteristic
Individuals which carry out appeasement behaviours to reduce conflict.
Typically weaker organisms with worse genetic traits.
Reason for social hierarchy
Increases the chance of favourable genes from dominant social members being passed on to offspring.
Alliances definition
Where individuals work together to increase their social status in the group
Co-operative hunting
Where predatory animals hunt together in groups, benefiting both dominant and subordinate members of the group
Examples of cooperative hunting
Orcas
Wolves
Lions
Chimpanzees
Advantages of cooperative hunting
More food obtained
Less energy expended
Larger prey caught
Increase in success of hunting
Social defence def
Where a group of social animals employ strategies to increase their chance of survival.
Examples of social defence
Meerkats - some individuals watch for predators whilst others forage for food.
Bison - all individual make a protective circle around the young who can’t defend themselves
What type of animals do dominant organisms act ritualistically to
Other organisms within the social hierarchy such as dominant or subordinates, or to outsiders to scare them off
What type of animals do subordinates carry out appeasement behaviours
To other dominants to diffuse social tension, to outsiders to make them leave the group alone.
