animal behavior Flashcards
development of behavior may begin soon after conception
genes regulate many aspects of animal development including sex, level of dominance, and behavioral dispersal patterns
genes can be turned on or off based on various environmental exposures and this gene regulation alteration can influence morphology and behaviors
instinct(nature)
adaptation occurs over generations by selection that results in the various behaviors we observe
learning (nurture)
behaviors are the result of each individual animal’s unique life experiences
all animal behavior occurs along a developmental pathway
epigenetics
when gene expression is altered due to other gene expression in the genome or environmental factors
advantages of grouping
protection from predators
protection from extreme environmental stress/assistance with homeostasis
assistance with food acquisition
disadvantages to grouping
increase competition for food
increased risk of disease transmission
greater conspicuousness to predators
cuckoldry
cannibalism of young
why do we see grouping
benefit outweigh the disadvantages
natural selection is likely to act to cause the evolution of behaviors that fit the environment and biology of each species
kin selection
Kin selection is the evolutionary strategy that favors the reproductive success of an organism’s relatives, even when at a cost to the organism’s own survival and reproduction.
altruism
why do some individual of a group loose their reproductive capacity while other maintain it
the efforts of sterile workers (female) increase the reproductive output of colonies
although all known cases are associated with a high degree of relatedness and generational overlap
