Evolution and domestication

Question 1

scientific definition of domestication

Answer 1

-hard to define
-relationship with humans?
-process where animals adapt to living with humans and in the environment humans provide for them?

Question 2

is domestication the same as taming

Answer 2

no

Question 3

how old is domestication relative to life on planet

Answer 3

very short

Question 4

first domesticated species

Answer 4

dog ~14000 years ago

Question 5

beginning of domestication of farm animals

Answer 5

8000-12000 years ago

Question 6

has the majority of genetic selection taken place before or after domestication

Answer 6

before

Question 7

circumstances that led to domestication

Answer 7

-environmental changes
-ice age
-animals + people got together and lived in the same space

Question 8

when control over animals by humans did start it was likely with the use of

Answer 8

-hobbles
-slaughter
-castration
-herding
-selecting for docility

Question 9

what is evolution

Answer 9

selection of variants on trait animals already had

Question 10

factors that were likely “selected for”

Answer 10

-ability to control animals
-herding ability
-temperament (casturation)
-aggression (slaughter)

Question 11

in the last 100 years, how has there been a shift in how genetic selection takes place

Answer 11

-particular matings
-computers
-AI

Question 12

in the last 100 years, how has there been a change in group size

Answer 12

-huge changes to animal social behaviuor
-livestock (going from 10 cows to feed lot)
-pets (typically we only have one dog or cat, before we had multiple + now we are treating dogs differently)

Question 13

roles of behaviour in domestication

Answer 13

-relationship between human and animals is important for domestication
-animals that are more docile generally have a better relationship (docility most important behaviour factor in domestication)

Question 14

favourable vs unfavourable traits for group structure

Answer 14

favorable:
-large social groups (flocks, herds)
-hierarchical group structure
-males and females living together

un favourable:
-family groupings
-territorial structure
-males living separate form females

Question 15

favourable vs unfavourable traits for sexual behaviours

Answer 15

fav
-promiscuous mating
-males dominate females
-sexual signals given by movements of posture

unfav
-pair bond matings
-males must work to establish dominance over females
-sexual signals are given by colour markings or other morphological structures

Question 16

favourable vs unfavourable traits for parent-young interactions

Answer 16

fav
-imprinting during critical period
-cross-fostering
-precocial young

unfav
-species bond established by species characteristics
-young accepted on basis of species charicteristics
-altricial young

Question 17

favourable vs unfavourable traits for response to humans

Answer 17

fav
-short flight distance
-humans and environmental changes not upsetting
unfav
-long flight distance (wary)
-easily upset by humans or other changes to environment

Question 18

favourable vs unfavourable traits for others

Answer 18

fav
-omnivorous
-adapted to environments
-limited agility
unfav
-specific dietary requirements
-specific habitat
-extreme agility