3.6 Social Behaviour

Question 1

State some advantages of living in social groups

Answer 1

<ul>
<li>Easier to catch food</li>
<li>Increased Protection</li>
<li>Help finding mates</li>
<li>Help raising young</li>
</ul>

Question 2

What are some adaptations of living in a social group?

Answer 2

Social Hierarchy
Co-operative hunting
Social Defense

Question 3

Describe ‘Social Hierarchy’ and give an example of a species that features social hierarchy

Answer 3

Social hierarchy is where members of the social group are ordered in rank going from the most dominant individuals to the most subordinate
Examples: Chimpanzees, Wolves, Hens

Question 4

What are the two ways in which the social hierarchy of a group is maintained?

Answer 4

Ritualistic Threats(teeth bared, eyes staring)
Submissive Gestures(eyes covered, head lowered)

Question 5

What is advantages of social hierarchy?

Answer 5

<ol>
<li>Fighting is minimised, saving energy</li>
<li>Strongest genes get passed on to next generation</li>
</ol>

Question 6

How do animals improve their position in hierarchy?

Answer 6

<ul>
<li>By forming alliances</li>
<li>By challenging the dominant</li>
</ul>

Question 7

What is an advantage of cooperative hunting?

Answer 7

• Larger prey can be tackled

- Everyone gets a share of food

Question 8

Give an example of a species that use cooperative hunting

Answer 8

Wolves,Lions

Question 9

What are the two types of cooperative hunting?

Answer 9

Running Down

Ambush

Question 10

What is the Ambush hunting technique?

Answer 10

Where the predators drive their prey towards other predators in wait
Example : Lion

Question 11

What is the running down hunting technique?

Answer 11

Chase after their prey to the point of exhaustion where they can catch the weaker ones
Example: Wolves

Question 12

Give an advantage of being in a group in relation to defence

Answer 12

• More eyes to look out for predator
• Safety in numbers
• Harder to pick out individuals

Question 13

What are the three social defense formations?

Answer 13

Mobbing
Roosting in Circles
Travelling in a group

Question 14

Describe ‘Mobbing’ and give an example of a species that uses this technique

Answer 14

Mobbing is where the animals form a protective circle around the young and the enemies are driven off with a combined charge
Example: Musk Oxen

Question 15

Describe how roosting in circles can defend animals against predators and give an example of a species that employs this technique

Answer 15

<ul>
<li>Sleep with heads pointing outwards</li>
<li>Explode when predator approaches which scares them </li>
<li>Gives the animals the chance to escape while the predator is scared</li>
</ul>

Example: Quail

Question 16

Describe the formation for Baboons travelling in their group

Answer 16

• Dominant males stay in middle close to females/infants

- Lower males raise the alarm if danger is spotted

Question 17

Describe the features of primate behaviour

Answer 17

<ol>
<li>Long parental care</li>
<li>Alliances</li>
<li>Dominance and Subordinate behaviours</li>
</ol>

Question 18

What does long parental care allow for?

Answer 18

Learning of complex social behaviours

Question 19

What is an alliance?

Answer 19

Social bonds that develop between individuals

Question 20

Why is it of importance that lower males/females form alliances?

Answer 20

To increase their social ranking

Question 21

Is the social hierarchy permanent or in a state of flux?

Answer 21

State of flux

Question 22

Give examples of behaviours seen in a ritualistic displays

Answer 22

Chest beating

Aggressive Verbal Sounds

Question 23

What are some advantages of ritualistic displays?

Answer 23

• Reinforces dominance of head male

- Allows challenger to practice assessing threats

Question 24

Give some examples of subordinate behaviours seen in primate social groups

Answer 24

Grooming

Question 25

https://www.brainscape.com/p/1L84J-LH-5HR7N

Answer 25

Link in order to get free access to my Advanced Biology Cards