Behavioural Ecology Flashcards
Define Behaviour
action in response to stimulus
Define Behavioural ecology
the study of behavioural adaptations that evolved in response to selection pressures
what is proximate causation
how actions occur, genetic, neuro, hormones etc
what is ultimate causation
Explains why actions occur , Based on evolutionary history and natural selection, Behaviour is any phenotype that can evolve by natural section
five common question in behavioural ecology
- what should i eat
- where should i live
- whom should i mate
- how should i communicate
- when should i cooperate
Ways animals navigate (proximate causes)
piloting: landmarks
Compass orientation: use of sun/stars/magnetic field, circadian clock
True navigation: ability to locate specific place on earth
why animals migrate (ultimate cause)
migration cost energy, time and high predation risk.
Hypothesis: track seasonal food availability, more resources = survival
what is sexual cannibalism
females eats males after mating
explain mating in red back spiders
male courts female by strumming on her web. Male mounts female inserts firth palp, inserts second palp, gets into handstand position, dangle in front of female, females eats him
hypothesis of sexual cannabilism in red black spiders
hungery lover: females eat males as food source.
Nuptial gift: allowing female to eat males increasing duration of copulation, higher success rates.
Proximate and ultimate causes of sexual canabalism in red black spider
proximate: male somersault is triggered after he inserts palp
ultimate: the male increases the length of copulation by sacrificing himself.
define Fixed action patterns (FAPs)
highly inflexible behaviour, examples of innate behaviour
define Innate behaviour
requires no learning
define intersexual selection
takes large amount of reasources to produce traits like long tails and bright colours
define intrasexual selection
competing for mates can be costly in terms of energy, risk of injury
define communication
a signal from one individuals modifies the behaviour of another
proximate causes to the bee dance
Waggle dance contains information about food location
Length of wggle run = distance to feeder
Direction of waggle run = diection of food source
Downward waggle dance = food source away from sun
Sideways waggle dance = food doruce at right angle to sun
ultimate causes of bee dance
Communication has been honed by natural selection to maximize benefits and minimize costs
Waggle dance supports foraging success
example of deceiving individuals of another species
Male and female fireflies flash species specific signal during courtship, predatory photuris firefly females attract males of different species by mimicking this flash signal
define altruism
behaviour that has a fitness cost to the individual but a fitness benefit to recipients. Existence of altruism appears paradoxical; alleles that make an individual more likely to be altruistic should be selected against
what is hamiltons rule
Br > C
Where B is the fitness benefit to recipient = increase reproductive sucess of recipents
r the coefficient of relatedness = lost reproductive success of altruist
C is the fitness cost to the altuist = probability of shared alleles
what are the different coefficients of relatedness
- Varies between 0.0 and 1.0
- CompletelY unrelated, no identical alleles: r=0.0
- Identical twins, r=1.0
- In parent to offspring descent the probability of any particular allele being transmitted is 0.5
do individuals act for the good of the species
no, Helping other had costs and benefits, Organisms behave altruistically if it increased direct or inclusive fitness, Decision making occurs at proximate level
