Cooperation-Competition

Question 1

Altruism Defined (know equation)

Answer 1

a helpful behavior that increases direct fitness of receiver, but lowers the giver’s direct fitness
Hamilton’s rule: C<(r)B
B = fitness benefit to recipient
C = fitness cost to actor
r = coefficient of relatedness
(benefit outweighs the cost)

Question 2

Degree of Relatedness

Answer 2

parent → child = 0.5
grandparent → grandchild = 0.25

Question 3

Alarm Calling in Ground Squirrels (who calls, why altruistic)

Answer 3

females call more, because they’re surrounded by kin (females stay in natal area)
altruistic because calling gives away their location to the predator

Question 4

Direct Reciprocity in Altruism Defined (animal example)

Answer 4

receiver of altruistic act then turns around and becomes the giver to the animal they received from
A helps B, B helps A
e.g. vampire bats share blood

Question 5

Indirect Reciprocity in Altruism Defined (animal example)

Answer 5

the giver of an act receives help from a third individual
A helps B, C helps A
e.g. monkeys grooming. A good groomer will get groomed by others

Question 6

Kin Selection Defined and Two Tenets

Answer 6

an organism helps relatives survive and breed.
1. help kin over nonkin
2. help close kin over distant kin

Question 7

Inclusive Fitness/Direct Fitness/Indirect Fitness

Answer 7

Direct = have your own offspring
indirect = help offspring of blood relatives
Inclusive = both

Question 8

Know 7 Types of Signals Listed in Class Lecture

Answer 8

Specific Signal
General signal
discrete signal
graded signal
metacommunication
Medley signal
Contextual effect

Question 9

Specific Signal (animal example)

Answer 9

signal is specific to a conspecific
e.g. sex pheromone of silk moth

Question 10

General signal (animal example)

Answer 10

signal can be picked up by other species
e.g. bird alarm call, deer looks up

Question 11

discrete signal (animal example)

Answer 11

signal on or off (toggle switch
e.g. firefly’s lantern

Question 12

graded signal (animal example)

Answer 12

along a continuum, may reflect level of excitement or motivation
e.g. step on mouse, volume of squeak

Question 13

metacommunication (animal example)

Answer 13

tells the receiver what else may follow
e.g. playface on dog, play to follow

Question 14

Medley signal (animal example)

Answer 14

two signals together are different form each signal individually
e.g. zebra open mouth ears back = aggression. individually is different

Question 15

Contextual effect (animal example)

Answer 15

context of the signal gives the signal different meanings
e.g. rooster side steps next to hen = mate. side steps next to other rooster = fight.

Question 16

Ritualization Defined

Answer 16

when a behavior that may have had another purpose becomes more exaggerated, more stereotyped, and serves as an attention getting behavior

Question 17

Competition Defined

Answer 17

aggression that occurs then fighting for necessities of like (food, shelter, mates). Fights are rarely to the death

Question 18

Dominance Hierarchies (two types & animal examples)

Answer 18

Linear rank (e.g. male baboons and common chimps)
Grouped as either high or low rank (e.g. female baboons and common chimps)

Question 19

Rank is based on:

Answer 19

Rank based on: body size/strength(red deer), your parents(female baboon), age(elephants), hormone levels(chickens)

Question 20

Territorial Behavior Defined

Answer 20

An area defended by an individual or social group of animals, from other conspecifics.
Tends to be agonistic (aggressive) and may range from combative fighting to habitual scent marking

Question 21

Territorial Behavior Types

Answer 21

Physical fighting (common chimpanzees)
Scent marking (olfactory) (lemurs)
Auditory (singing warblers, howling wolves)
Visual: birds with visual “badges” European wildcats sign-posts

Question 22

Role of Submissive Signals (Peace Making Behavior) in Aggression

Answer 22

Ritualized fighting coupled with submissive signals (an ESS). Aggression followed by peace-making behavior. Need both components.
Without, aggression would continue.

Question 23

Hawk & Dove Game Theory (three conditions)

Answer 23

Hawk fights, dove struts and displays but won’t fight.
Conditions: 1. a strategy is an inheritable trait/behavior. 2. Payoff in fitness units. 3. Players are members of a population, all competing to leave more descendents.
HvH: each win 50%, both pay cost of fighting. DvH: H always wins. DvD: Each D wins 50%.

Question 24

Three Reasons Why Animals Don’t Always Set Out to Kill Rival

Answer 24

1. Costs in time and energy
2. Killing everyone could benefit your rivals, risk injury
3. Need to wait until you have an advantage, so your chances of winning are high

Question 25

Examples of Heightened Female Aggression (animal examples)

Answer 25

Usually in polyandrous species. (shorebirds) Spotted hyenas fight for feeding priority, so Fs have to be aggressive