Animal Behaviour Flashcards
Behaviour is defined into 4 categories
-movement
-social interaction
-cognition
-learning
Behaviours can be divided into two traits
-proximate (traits that are “coming soon”)
-ultimate (traits coming to an “end”)
Proximate traits are
-traits that are “coming very soon”
-imminent causes responsible for the trait
-how does this work NOW?
Ultimate Traits are
-traits that are “coming at the end”
-the evolution of the trait
-what is its HISTORY?
Tinbergen’s Four Questions
-what is the adaptive value or selective advantage of the trait?
-what mechanisms cause the trait to occur in an individual?
-how is the trait acquired during the course of development?
-from what did the trait evolve?
Functional/Ultimate + example
-what is the adaptive value or selective advantage of the trait?
-geese that imprint on their mom increase survival
Mechanistic/Proximate + example
-what mechanisms cause the trait to occur in an individual?
-hearing mom call causes geese to follow
Developmental/Ontogenetic + example
-how is the trait acquired during the course of development?
-hear mom call and imprint at a young age
Historical/Phylogenetic + example
-from what did the trait evolve?
-geese that imprinted on their mom increased survival
Causation can be
-sensory
-physiological
Innate components are
Genetic
Learned components are
Environmental
Traits develop through the combination of
Innate with learned components
Innate behaviours are
Developed on their own - they don’t need to be taught or learned.
Innate behaviours can be
-there at birth
-developed during sexual maturity
Associative learning is
Learning to associate stimulus with a consequence
A learned behaviour is
A behaviour an animal acquires through experience
Operant conditioning and Classical conditioning are examples of
Associative Learning
Operant condition is
-trial and error learning
-associated with reward or punishment
Classical Conditioning is
-Pavlovian condition
-associating a “neutral stimulus” with a “significant stimulus”
Innate Behaviours vs Learned Behaviours (5 points each)
Innate:
-genetically based
-not modified by the individual
-low variation in a population
-unaffected by environment
-beneficial for survival and reproduction
Learned:
-based on experience
-modified by the individual through trial and error
-high variation in a population
-highly affected by the environment
-product of natural selection
Utility or Adaptive Value of a behaviour
An animal will perform behaviours if the benefit outweighs the cost
Evolution of a behaviour occurs when
Organisms with traits that lead to increased survival and reproduction leave more offspring than those without
An example of how behaviours evolve is through
Domestication
Neuroethology is
The study of the interaction of the nervous system and behaviour
Causation, Mechanism, Development, and Evolution are
Tinbergen’s Four Questions
Behavioural response to external stimuli
Causation
How the behaviour changes during its lifetime is
Development
How the behaviour helps survival and reproduction is
Utility
Behaviours arising through modifications of ancestral traits is
Evolution
Traits that were used for one thing and now used for another
Co-opted
Developmental responses can be
-innate
-learned
Natural Selection is
A process that results in increased survival and reproduction compared to that of competing organisms
Genetic basis of behaviour are
Variation among traits that can be inherited
Co-option of behaviours can reflect
Domestication
Chickens laying more eggs is an example of _____ through ____
Co-option ; domestication
A beneficial trait for which the ancestral function has been modified
Adaptive trait
Examples of adaptive traits include (5)
-migration
-hibernation
-mimicry
-camouflage
-being nocturnal
Three examples of traits that were adaptive at an earlier time but are no longer adaptive (because of domestication) are:
-cat hunting
-dog aggression
-horse bucking
An example of a trait existing because of a constraint is
Number of offspring
Motivation Display in dogs is
-a way to display discomfort
-adapted through domestication
Selected to create specific functions through domestication
Behavioural traits
3 examples of selected adaptions via domestication in dairy cows are
-temperament
-fitness
-production
Sexual reproduction is
-behavioural adaption
-source of genetic variation
Variety in offspring means
Some of the offspring will survive and reproduce
Fitness is the
Relative ability of an organism to contribute genes to the next generation
Speciation is
The formation of species
Four ways Speciation can occur:
-geographic barriers
-resource shifts
-mate choice
-genetic change
A geographic barrier is
Allopatric speciation
Resource shifts are
Parapatric
Mate choice and genetic mutation are
Sympatric
If two populations don’t inter breed then
Separate species are formed
An example of allopatric speciation are
Darwin’s Finches
An example of parapatric speciation are
Salamanders in California
An example of Sympatric speciation are
Mate choice (especially in fish) and genetic change (mutations)
Genetic mutations produce
Individuals that cannot mate with others in the population
Branches in phylogenies are called ____ and represent ____
Nodes ; last common ancestor shared
Phylogenies are
-important for information about behaviour
-radiations over time
7 reasons for Social Grouping
-exploitation of public information
-shared defence/vigilance
-give/receive aid
-kin selection
-reciprocal altruism
-manipulation
-group selection
Benefits of group living (3)
-improved foraging
-reproductive assistance
-reduced chance of predation
Costs of group living (3)
-increased visibility
-competition
-disease contraction
Group living requires
Learning social structure and membership
What is the arms race
-predator-prey evolution
-one is trying to out do the other through evolution
Relay running is used
To tire prey
Ungulates live in ____ for ____
Groups (herds) ; protection (cooperation OR selfish)
5 mechanistic causes that explain social cooperation within a group:
-kin selection
-group selection
-reciprocal altruism
-selfish teamwork
-stolen help
Animal behaves in ways that add fitness to its close relatives
Kin selection
Animals within the group behave for the good of the species
Group selection
Each animal will trade aid in the present for aid in the future
Reciprocal altruism
Cooperation in the short term even though there are competing interests
Selfish teamwork
Deceitful behaviour in which one gains and others pay a cost
Stolen help
An example of selfish teamwork is
Herding behaviour in sheep
An example of stolen help are
Seagulls
What is contrary to Darwinian thinking
True altruism
When the donor doesn’t benefit but the recipient does it is
Altruism
When neither the donor nor recipient benefit it is
Spite
When both the donor and recipient benefit, it is called
Cooperation
When only the donor benefits it is
Selfishness
A harem social system
Is seen in wild horses with one stallion and many mares
Dilution Effect
-risk of being a victim for any animal in a group
-depends on group size
Four types of hierarchies
-linear
-triangular
-despotic
-complex
Dogs display aggression / disobedience because of
Their desire for a resource and the associated learning on how best to obtain the resource
What is a mating system
-any pattern of male-female pairings
-how male and female interactions are built around choosing a mate
Males produce
Large numbers of small, motile sperm
Females produce
Small number of eggs with a large investment in each
Protandrous + example
Males in early development, females later
Ex. Clownfish
Protogynous + example
Females when smaller, males when larger
Ex. Wrasse
All the genome is passed on in
Asexual reproduction
Diversity is needed for
Speciation
Intersexual Selection
Effects that mating preferences of one sex (females) have on the characteristics of another (males)
Intrasexual Selection
Effects of competition within one sex (males) for mates
Female mate choice depends on
-ability to provide
-desirable genetic traits
-maximization of genetic diversity
Mate choice depends on 10 factors
- Species identification
- Good genes
- Inbreeding Avoidance
- Optimal Outbreeding
- resources
- Symmetry
- Immunocompetance
- Immunocomplementarity
- Quality as a parent
- Sexy son
Runaway intersexual selection can result in
Features being overly emphasized
Ex. Peacocks
Index hypothesis predicts that
Dishonest signals cannot be faked
Handicap Principle predicts that
Dishonest signals are too costly to fake
Dishonesty is a
False representation of an animal’s genotype or the resources it holds
Surreptitious Matings are when
Females “two-time” males
An exchange of information between a male and a female is called
Courtship
Courtship should (3):
-include signals to ensure they are the same species
-include information to prevent inbreeding
-opportunity to present information about their quality as a potential mate
Monogamy
One male mates exclusively with one female
Polygamy
Individuals mate with more than one partner
Polygamy can be subdivided into
-polygyny
-polyandry
Polygyny
Male mates with more than one female
Polyandry
Female mates with more than one male
Promiscuity
Males and females mate with as many as they want
Cat mating system:
-Toms not involved in parental care
-copulation favours ovulation
-infanticide can occur
Dog mating system:
-pair bonded male and female head the pack
-male contributes to parental care
Reproductive behaviour is influenced by
Hormones
LH and FSH stand for
-Leutenizing Hormone
-Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Hormone of pregnancy and sexual receptivity
Progesterone
Hormone in males that increases during maturity then remains constant
Testosterone
Oxytocin and Vasopressin
Prime animals to pair bond
Testosterone causes (5):
-territoriality
-fighting
-roaming
-muscle development
-dominance behaviour
Dominance in wolves is established by
-age
-weight
-nature of resource
The hierarchy of wolves is
Complex, NOT linear
An example of kin selection is seen in
Horses (dominant stallion protects the herd)
The death stare is
Fixation on prey item without going for the kill
