3E - Symbiosis and Animal Behaviour Flashcards
Define:
Symbiosis
Symbiosis is the co-evolved, intimate relationships between members of two different species.
Many animals live in social groups and have behaviours that are adapted to group living such as?
Many animals live in social groups and have behaviours that are adapted to group living such as social hierarchy, cooperative hunting and social defence.
Give some details on what Cooperative Hunting is and how it is beneficial.
Cooperative hunting can help the subordinate animals as well as the dominant since the subordinate animal may gain more food than by foraging alone. This means less energy is used per individual. It also enables larger prey to be caught and increases the chances of a successful hunt/kill.
Give some examples of social insects and the structure of their societies.
Social insects include bees, wasps, ants and termites. In their society, only some individuals (queens and drones) contribute reproductively.
Other members of the colony are sterile workers who cooperate with close relatives to raise relatives.
Workers defend the hive, collect pollen, carry out waggle dances to show direction of food.
The sterile workers raise relatives to increase the survival chances of shared genes.
How are parasites transmitted?
Transmission of parasites to new hosts can be done using direct contact, resistant stages and vectors. Some parasitic lifecycles involve intermediate (secondary) hosts.
Give some details about what a social hierarchy is and how it works.
Social Hierarchy is a rank order within a group of animals consisting of a dominant and subordinate member. The dominant individuals carry out ritualistic (threat) displays whilst the subordinate ones carry out appeasement behaviour to reduce conflict. Social hierarchies increase the chances of the dominants’ favourable genes being passed on to offspring. Alliances between animals often occur to increase their social status within the group.
Explain the term altruism.
Altruistic behaviour is one that harms the donor individual but benefits the recipient. It can be explained using the ‘prisoner’s dilemma’.
Describe some of the aspects of primate behaviour.
Primates have a long period of parental care to give the offspring the opportunity to learn complex social behaviours. These complex behaviours support the social structure by reducing conflict eg. Ritualistic display and appeasement behaviours. Different species of social primates use grooming, facial expression, body posture and sexual presentation. In some monkeys and apes, alliances form between individuals which are often used to increase social status within the group.
Define parasitism
Parasitism is a co-evolved, intimate relationship where the parasite benefits in terms of energy or nutrients, whereas the host is harmed by the loss of these resources.
Define Mutualism
Mutualism is a co-evolved, intimate relationship where both mutualistic partner species benefit in an interdependent relationship.
Give some details on social defence strategies.
Social defence strategies increase the chance of survival as some individuals can watch for predators while others forage. The group will often form specialised formations when under attach to allow the protection of the young.
What are some examples of mutualism? (use the ones done in class)
Examples of mutualism include cellulose-digesting protozoa and bacteria in the guts of many herbivores, and the photosynthetic algae in the polyps of coral.
Explain the term kin selection.
Behaviour that appears to be altruistic can be common between both a donor and a recipient if they are related (kin). The donor will benefit in terms of the increased chances of survival of shared genes in the recipient’s offspring or future offspring.
Explain the term reciprocal altruism.
Reciprocal altruism is where the roles of donor and recipient are later reversed and often occurs in social animals.
