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Animal Behavior > Exam 3 Prep > Flashcards

Exam 3 Prep Flashcards

1
Q

Define communication (in humans)

A

Defined as the process of sending and receiving messages (information) through verbal or nonverbal means

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2
Q

Modes of communication in animals

A

Tactile- licking in wolves/ bee dance
Olfactory- scent marking
Visual- facial expressions, body language
Auditory- whale song

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3
Q

What are the two types of bee dance and what do they mean

A

Waggle dance- The pollen source is LESS than 100 meters from the hive
Figure 8 dance- The pollen source is MORE than 100 meters from the hive

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4
Q

Are bee dances tactile or visual

A

tactile

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5
Q

How is scent marking a form of animal communication (in particular dogs)

A

Use of pheromones
Dogs use Jacobsen’s organ located in nasal cavity and each individual has a unique smell that conveys information like dominant/submissive nature, mating receptivity, health status, etc.
Scent marking conveys information targeted at conspecifics but can also alert interspecifics. Messages include social status and breeding availability

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6
Q

True or False: Whale song is only performed by baleen whales

A

True. These include: Blue, Fin, Humpback, Bowhead, Minke

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7
Q

Theories on the purpose of whale song

A

Attract mates
Coordinate migration
Communicate with their young

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8
Q

T or F: only male whales sing

A

True

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9
Q

What is the purpose of a wolf’s howl

A

Communicates location to other pack members
Ward of rival packs

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10
Q

Why do dogs yawn

A

Sleepy
To show submission
When they feel pressure/stress
One theory is to cool off the brain

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11
Q

Define cognition

A

the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses

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12
Q

Define latent learning and give an example

A

Association of different stimuli or situations without obvious reward. What is learned may not be obvious at the time
Ex: Animal learns environment by exploring then escapes fro predator using this knowledge. Or: Rat explores maze when not hungry then later runs through it faster than one without this previous opportunity.

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13
Q

Define insight learning and give an example

A

Solving a problem too rapidly for normal trial and error learning
Perhaps going through solutions in mind without actually trying them physically
Ex: Problem of getting out of reach food. Chimp thinks about problem and stacks boxes together to get the food.

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14
Q

Define observational learning and give an example

A

Learning takes place by watching another animal learn. Thorndike didn’t believe in this. Ex: Dolphins at Sea Life park were held in separate holding pens but each performed separately in main pool and each learned other animal’s behaviors.

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15
Q

Define imprinting and give an example

A

Special type of learning that only occurs during a sensitive or critical period and is irreversible. Often, the knowledge acquired is not manifested until much later in life: Filial (parental) imprinting and sexual (species recognition) imprinting

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16
Q

Define behavioral ecology

A

How behavior is controlled, how it evolves, develops and contributes to reproductive success and survival, based on observations

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17
Q

How to factor in selective pressures when studying the evolution of behavior

A

Determine whether certain behaviors are favored or penalized by natural selection. Compare species and compare those that are closely related. Have they adopted different strategies?

18
Q

Define convergent evolution

A

Evolution of the same behavior in unrelated species

19
Q

Example of convergent evolution

A

Hawks and falcons are examples of raptors that diverged from a common ancestor.
Buteos (soaring hawks) evolved to soar in the air and catch terrestrial prey
Falcons evolved to hunt mostly other birds and to catch them air to air
The majority of raptors hunt independently and share food with their mates
Harris’ hawks and Aplomado falcons share overlapping habitats in a desert environment and as a result are pressured to be generalized in their prey choices- Convergence- both species evolved to be cooperative hunters in familial groups

20
Q

Wingspan of hawks and falcons in order of longest to shortest

A

Eagle
Buteo
Accipiter
Falcon

21
Q

What are weaver birds

A

Small finches which live throughout Africa and Asia
Some species are solitary while some live in large flocks
Some build cryptic nests in large defended territories while others cluster their nests into colonies
Some are monogamous while others are polygamous

22
Q

Mating systems of weaver birds

A

Monogamous- male/female pair
Polygamous:
- Polygynous- one male mates with more than one female
- Polyandrous- one female mates with more than one male
- Polygyndandry- several males mate with several females simultaneously

23
Q

What was John Crook looking for in the weaver bird study in 1964

A

Correlations between the birds’ (90 species) social organization and their ecology

24
Q

What variables were examined in John Crook’s weaver bird study

A

Type of food
Distribution and abundance of food
Predators
Nest sites
– sorted into two broad categories: Forest-living and Savanna-living species

25
Q

Tendencies of forest-living species of weaver birds

A

tended to be insectivorous
solitary feeders
defend large territories
build cryptic, solitary nests
monogamous with very little sexual dimorphism
Avoids predators by having no bright, attractive colors

26
Q

Tendencies of savanna-living species of weaver birds

A

tended to eat seeds- more efficient to find patches of seeds by being in a group. Abundant, little competition
feed in flocks
nest colonially in conspicuous nests
polygamous with obvious sexual dimorphism
Bright plumage

27
Q

Tendencies of African ungulates (small species)

A

High metabolic requirement per unit of weight- need to select high quality food
Such food tends to occur in forest and be scattered so animals tend to be solitary
Avoid predators by hiding
Mating system of territorial pair

28
Q

Tendencies of African ungulates (big species)

A

Eat poor quality food- eat lots of food by grazing unselectively on plains
Live in herds- don’t defend food
Males may defend female herd from other males
Flee predators or group defense

29
Q

Crook and Gartlan’s study in 1966 divided primates into five categories based on ecoloy and behavior. What defined Grade I, Middle grade, and Grade V?

A

Grade I- insectivorous, nocturnal, solitary, forest animals
Middle Grade- Fruit and leaf-eating species which are diurnal and live in small to large groups
Grade V- Vegetarian browsers of open country which live in large groups and show marked sexual dimorphism

30
Q

What did Crook and Gartlan suggest was the two main selective pressures responsible for the link between social organization and habitat in primates

A

food and predation (but this was not necessarily correct)

31
Q

T or F: Larger animals need to eat more food and so should have larger home ranges

A

True

32
Q

Diff between chimp and bonobo

A

Chimp: Found across equatorial Africa, males use aggression to compete for dominance rank and obtain sex, males cooperate to defend their home range and attack other groups
Bonobo- live South of Congo River, males subordinate to females, do not compete intensely for dominance rank, and do not form alliances. No evidence of lethal aggression between groups, playful throughout life, show intense sexual behavior that serve non-conceptive functions and often involves same-sex partners.

33
Q

What is the Optimality theory

A

Assumes natural selection will favor the evolution of optimal behavior (the best behavior for a given situation)
Optimal Foraging Theory- Animal should either maximize its energy intake or minimize its costs

34
Q

Define solitary

A

Live alone most of the time
Come together only for mating

35
Q

Define gregarious

A

Large groups
Individual is never alone

36
Q

Advantages to living in a group

A

Protection, benefits of cooperative hunting, defense of resources, communal rearing of young, more eyes to watch for predators/make alarm calls, dilution effect, division of labor

37
Q

Disadvantages to living in a group

A

sharing resources, direct competition between conspecifics, very visible, spreading of disease

38
Q

Rank this hierachy from most to least dominant: Alpha, Beta, Omega

A

Alpha- most dominant
Beta- second most dominant
Omega- Lowest ranking

39
Q

Define Autocratic hierarchy

A

One individual is clearly dominant over all the others
No hierarchy amongst others in the group

40
Q

Supersedence

A

Momentary dominance situation
Occurs in large groups

41
Q

Are Harris hawk’s female or male dominant

A

female dominant

Animal Behavior (4 decks)

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