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.
Altruism definition
Where an individual acts in a way which is detrimental to themselves, the donor, but beneficial to others in the social hierarchy, called recipients.
Types of altruism
Reciprocal altruism
Kin selection
Example of altruism
Meerkats, one will stand watch (donor) whilst the other eat and hunt (recipient)
Donor - altruism
The organism which is negatively affected for the benefit of others within the social group.
Recipient - altruism
The organism which is positively benefitted by the donors actions
Reciprocal altruism def
Where one individual helps another individual in the social group and then the roles are reversed so everyone is benefitted.
Examples of reciprocal altruism
Primates and apes grooming to remove parasites.
Kin selection
Common altruistic behaviours between the donor and recipient because they are related.
Unique advantage of kin selection
Donor will be benefitted by increasing the chance of kin surviving and passing on shared genes to offspring.
Social insects types
Bees
Wasps
Ants
Termites
Social insects definition
Insects which live in groups which work together to survive.
Social insects roles
Queens, drones and workers
Queens social insects features
A high importance
Female
1 in the colony
Role to reproduce
Workers social insects features
Moderate importance
3000 in colony
Role to carry out colony tasks
Drone social insects features
Purpose to mate with queen
Low importance and will be kicked out in food shortage
300 in colony
Primate behaviour features
Long periods of parental care
Allows young to learn complex social behaviours essential to survival.
Uses appeasement behaviours and ritualistic displays to reduce conflict within the group and support social hierarchy.
Primate complex social behaviour examples
Grooming
Facial expressions
Body posture
Sexual presentation.
Primate alliances
Used to improve social status in the group.
