Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Wild Animal Biology > Behavioural Ecology > Flashcards

Behavioural Ecology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What’s the concept of Tinbergens four questions

A

Tinbergen’s four questions are a framework used in biology to help researchers analyze and understand behavior.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Tinbergens 4 questions

A

Causation
Development
Function
Phylogeny

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why study animal behaviour

A

Understand animals better
Help protect them
Learn more about humans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is behavioural ecology

A

The study of evolutionary basis of behaviour due to ecological pressures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Causation

A

What is the cause of this behaviour
- (Focuses on the proximate cause)
- What are the immediate environmental or physiological factors that are triggers for that behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Example of causation question

A

For example, what specific stimuli in the environment trigger a particular behavior or what hormonal changes lead to the behavior.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is causation also known as

A

Mechanism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Development

A

How has this behaviour developed over time
- considers how behaviour changes from birth to adulthood
- focuses on the proximate development

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Example of development question

A

For example, how does experience or learning shape behavior over time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is development also known as

A

Ontogeny

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is ontogeny

A

Ontogeny refers to the process of an organism’s development from conception to maturity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Function

A

Why does this behaviour serve the animals survival and reproduction
- focuses on the adaptive value of behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Example of function question

A

For example, how does a particular behavior help an animal find food, avoid predators, or mate successfully.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is function also known as

A

Adaptation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Phylogeny

A

Considers how the behaviour has ultimately changed over time
- How and why has the behaviour changed over generations through natural selection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Example of phylogeny question

A

For example, how did the behavior originate and evolve in the animal’s ancestral history, and how has it changed to adapt to new environments or selective pressures.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is phylogeny also known as

A

Evolution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Causation of animals fighting

A
  • what mechanisms cause an animal to perform this behaviour
  • what an organisms structures are like and how they work
  • which stimuli elicit and control the behaviour (short term)
  • physiology/ neurobiology
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Causation of animals fighting Pt2

A

Visual stimulus (rival for territory)
Hormones: Increased testosterone (raises aggression levels)
Use there claws teeth to fight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Development of animals fighting

A

How does this behaviour arise as animal grows (during its life time)
Genetic and environment are factors that will influence the development of a behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Development of animals fighting Pt2

A

Visual signals can develop though life to show dominance, or tendency to aggression

Animals can learn to fight through play and develop fighting skill
-they can also learn to asses other animals and there fighting ability

Motivation - increased levels of testosterone may develop at key times to increase aggression (when finding territory)

22
Q

Function of animals fighting

A

What is the current adaptive purpose
How does it help the animal survive or breed

23
Q

Function of animals fighting Pt 2

A

To defend territory
To mate
Tu gain greater reproductive success

24
Q

Phylogeny of animals fighting

A

How did this behaviour evolve
Are similar behaviours observed in related species
Has the evolutionary process led to a failure to achieve optimal design because of evolutionary constraints

25
Q

Phylogeny of animals fighting Pt2

A

Aggression and lethal fighting are correlated in mammal phylogeny - evolutionary route for fighting

26
Q

How to plan behavioural research

A

Develop a research question: The first step in planning a behavioral research project is to identify a research question. The research question should be specific and testable and should address a gap in the existing literature. It should also be relevant and have practical implications.
Review the literature: Once you have identified a research question, the next step is to review the existing literature on the topic. This will help you identify gaps in the literature and provide insights into the research methods and techniques that have been used in previous studies.
Choose a research design: Based on your research question and literature review, choose a research design that is appropriate for your study. This may include experimental, quasi-experimental, or observational designs.
Define the study population: Identify the population you want to study, such as a particular species or group of individuals.
Select appropriate measures: Choose appropriate measures for your study, such as observational, physiological, or self-report measures, depending on your research question and design.
Plan data collection: Plan the data collection process, including how you will collect, record, and manage data. Consider factors such as sample size, sampling methods, and data analysis techniques.
Ensure ethical considerations: Ensure that your research is conducted ethically and in accordance with relevant laws and guidelines. This may include obtaining informed consent, protecting participant confidentiality, and ensuring that your research does not cause harm to participants.
Consider practical considerations: Consider practical issues such as funding, time constraints, and availability of resources.
Develop a timeline: Develop a timeline for your study, including key milestones and deadlines.

27
Q

Prep for behavioural research

A
  • clear research question
  • clear hypothesis
    Choose
    . Species
    . Study site (captive or free range)
    . Timing of observations
28
Q

What are preliminary observations / pilot study

A

Preliminary observations refer to a small-scale research project that is conducted before the main study.
- aimed at understanding and describing the subjects and behaviour
- once familiar with the behaviour, you can dej et and practice your recording methods
- asses the effectiveness (reliability/validity) and modify if necessary

29
Q

How to describe behaviour

A

Structure
- physical/ temporal pattern -posture/movement
- eg lion running tongue along fur

Consequences of behaviour
- effect on environment, individuals or self
- eg courtship feeding

30
Q

What are ethograms

A

Catalogue of discrete, species-typical behaviours that form the basic repertoire of the species

31
Q

An ethograms categories should be

A

Comprehensive
Clear
Unambiguous
Mutually exclusive

32
Q

Ways to observe behaviour

A

Scan sampling
Continuous sampling
Focal animal sampling

33
Q

What is scan sampling

A

Scan sampling: Scan sampling involves observing a group of animals at predetermined time intervals (e.g. every 5 minutes) and recording the behavior of each individual at that moment. This method is often used when the behavior of the entire group is of interest, rather than individual animals.

34
Q

What is continuous sampling

A

Continuous Sampling: This technique involves observing a single animal continuously for a set period of time and recording all of its behaviors during that time. This method is useful for studying behaviors that occur at high frequencies or for individual animals that exhibit specific behaviors of interest.

35
Q

What is focal animal sampling

A

Focal Animal Sampling: This technique involves selecting a single individual (the “focal animal”) and observing and recording all of its behaviors for a set period of time. This method is useful for studying the behavior patterns and activity budgets of individual animals and how they may be influenced by various environmental factors.

36
Q

What is group sampling

A

Group sampling is a technique used in research to observe and collect data on the behavior and characteristics of a group of individuals, rather than focusing on specific individuals within the group.

In group sampling, the researcher selects a group of individuals to observe and record data on, rather than selecting specific individuals for observation. This method is particularly useful when studying social behavior and interactions within a group.

37
Q

Types of measure

A

Latency
Frequency
Duration
Intensity

38
Q

What is latency

A

Time that elapses from event to first occurrence of behaviour

39
Q

What is frequency

A

Number of occurrences per unit of time

40
Q

What is duration

A

Length of time a behaviour lasts

41
Q

What is intensity

A

Qualitative or quantitative measure of magnitude or acuteness

42
Q

What is events va states

A

Events are brief behaviours (point in time)
Sneeze, alarm call
- measured using frequency

States are extended behaviours
Sitting in state of grooming
- measured using duration

43
Q

Problems to avoid when recording behaviour

A

Behavioural bias
Anthropomorphism
Effect of observer
Observer bias

44
Q

What is behavioural bias

A

Animals may be more likely to perform a particular behaviour when they are out of site
Some ages/ sex may be more affected than others

45
Q

What is anthropomorphism

A

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, such as animals
Interpreting / assigning behaviour in terms of human emotions and intentions

46
Q

Effect of the observer

A

Animals may react with alarm or have more subtle changes to the way they behave

The effect of the observer is the influence that the presence and actions of an observer can have on the behavior of the subjects being observed.

47
Q

How to minimise observer effect

A

Use of unobtrusive measures: Researchers can use unobtrusive measures such as hidden cameras or remote monitoring equipment that do not require the physical presence of the observer. This helps to reduce the impact of the observer’s presence on the subjects being observed.

Training of observers: Observers can be trained to minimize the impact of their presence on the subjects being observed. This can include techniques such as blending in with the environment, minimizing movements, and avoiding eye contact with the subjects being observed.

Habituate your study animals
(Practical and ethical concerns)

48
Q

What is observer bias

A

Observer bias is a type of bias that occurs in research when an observer’s expectations, beliefs, or attitudes influence the interpretation of the data or the observations they make.

49
Q

How is observer bias different from observer effect

A

Observer effect deals with the reaction of animals
Observer bias relates to the action of the observer

50
Q

Types of observers

A

Intra observer - (within a single observer)
Become more proficient at recognising behaviour and recording info

Inter observer - (between different observers)
Differences in classifying behaviours
Different observational and recording skills

51
Q

Role of behaviour in conservation

A

Habitat selection: The behavior of animals in selecting and using their habitat can have a significant impact on their survival and reproduction. By studying the behavior of threatened or endangered species, conservationists can identify key habitats that need to be protected or restored.
Migration and dispersal: The behavior of animals in migrating or dispersing across landscapes can also be important in conservation. By understanding these behaviors, conservationists can identify corridors and other important areas that need to be protected to facilitate the movement of species.
Human-wildlife interactions: The behavior of humans in interacting with wildlife can have a significant impact on the survival of threatened or endangered species. By understanding the behavior of both humans and wildlife in these interactions, conservationists can develop strategies to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and promote coexistence.
Conservation education: Educating people about the behavior of threatened or endangered species can be an important tool in promoting conservation. By helping people understand the behaviors and needs of these species, conservationists can promote greater awareness and support for conservation efforts.

Wild Animal Biology (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions