Cooperative Breeding Flashcards

1
Q

What is altruism?

A

An extreme form of co-operation, involving unselfish behaviour performed for the benefit of others.

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2
Q

What 3 hypotheses explain the evolution of altruism?

A
  1. Kin selection - altruism is favoured when recipient shares same genes as donor.
  2. Reciprocal altruism - donor performs altruistic act in expectation that ‘favour’ will be returned one day.
  3. By-product mutualism - donor & recipient gain survival benefit from co-operative act (e.g. alloparenting).
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3
Q

What is solitary, colonial and communal breeding?

A
  • Solitary = no co-operation or in monogamy, co-operation between parents.
  • Colonial = several (or many) breeding pairs share breeding site but there’s no active co-operation.
  • Communal = group members co-operate for reproduction & participate in co-operation.
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4
Q

What is eusociality?

A
  • Specialisation between reproductive individuals & several sterile castes.
  • E.g. some castes are responsible for foraging & defence (bees, wasps & some termites).
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5
Q

What is co-operative breeding?

A

A system in which tasks associated with breeding & rearing young are shared between individuals & helpers.

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6
Q

What are the 2 components of inclusive fitness?

A
  1. Direct fitness - personal reproductive success (i.e. offspring).
  2. Indirect fitness - through reproductive success of relatives.
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7
Q

What are the 2 main types of co-operative breeding?

A
  • Helpers at nest/den - a breeding pair with helpers.
  • Plural breeders - more than 1 breeding pairs, extended family groups, overlapping generations.
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8
Q

Give an example of helpers.

A
  • Florida scrub jay.
  • Groups consist of a monogamous pair & 1-6 helpers.
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9
Q

What do the helpers do?

A
  • Defend natal territory.
  • Help feed young.
  • Defend nest when adults are away.
  • Protect fledglings.
  • Act as sentinels.
  • Usually leave pair after a couple of years.
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10
Q

Give an example of plural breeders.

A
  • Mexican jay.
  • Lives in extended family groups
  • Several breeding pairs in each group.
  • Helpers assist in feeding young & nest defence.
  • When fledged, young are fed by all group members.
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11
Q

Give an example of an obligate co-operative breeder.

A

Ground hornbills.

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12
Q

What are the benefits of helpers?

A
  • Increased success of breeding attempts.
  • Increased frequency of breeding.
  • May grow faster.
  • Fed more.
  • Enhanced breeder survival.
  • Increased fecundity in helpers.
  • Increased production of non-descendent kin for helpers.
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13
Q

What is the habitat saturation hypothesis?

A
  • Lack of vacant territories.
  • Some species need a territory to breed & available habitat or territories may be limiting.
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