alturism Flashcards
altruism definition
act which DECREASES the helper’s personal fitness and INCREASES the personal fitness of the recipient
example of alturism
take a risk to save someone from drowning
3 types of natural selection for alturism
- group
- individual
- kin
what does group selection help?
group members
what does individual selection help?
reciprocal help
what does kin selection help?
relatives
condition for gene to spread in group selection
sum of b>c
condition for gene to spread in individual selection
b > c
condition for gene to spread in kin selection
rb > c
r (relatedness) for full siblings
1/2
r (relatedness) for half siblings or for grandparent/grandchild
1/4
r (relatedness) for cousins
1/8
if cost = 0.2 and benefit = 0.3 should I help my sister?
1/2 X 0.3=0.15 0.2
therefore rb
if cost = 0.3 and benefit = 0.8 should I help my grandchild?
1/4 X 0.8=0.2 0.3
Therefore rb< c so shouldn’t help
what does b= ?
benefit to recipient = increase in the personal fitness of the recipient
what does c=?
cost to helper = decrease in the helper’s personal fitness
Most cases of altruism in the animal world are the result
kin selection
But some cooperation is ________
mutualism
group and reciprocal alturism occurs ____
occasionally
what is one of the most significant contributions to animal behaviour studies
hamilton’s rule
hamilton’s rule
rB >C
how belding’s ground squirrel shows alturism
- alarm calling as coyote approaches
- callers are more likely to be attacked and killed than non- callers
how praire dogs shows alturism
callers stand on mounds giving alarm calls, hearers take cover in burrow
conspecifics definition
a member of the same species.
how fallow deer shows alturism
white rumps perhaps warn conspecifics at a cost to the individual
how African wild dogs show alturism
The two leading dogs are likely the dominant individuals. They generally take the most dangerous roles in the hunt
how wild turkeys show alturism
Males are more successful if they display in groups. Only one gets to mate, the others are brothers
how meerkats show alturism
meerkats will look after other members offspring
how bee eaters (choughs and house martins) show alturism
Relatives help with the rearing of offspring
what does group selection theory require
- High rate of group extinctions
- Very low rate of migration between groups
rarely occurs
why is r easy to measure?
use DNA fingerprinting
