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Animal Behaviour > Final > Flashcards

Final Flashcards

1
Q

3 methods of hypothesis testing

A
  1. observational
  2. experimental
  3. comparative
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2
Q

At what level is the intensity of natural selection highest?

A

The individual

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3
Q

cross generational, evolutionarily determined behaviour via natural selection and descent with modification

A

Ultimate causes of behaviour

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4
Q

Neural-hormonal mechanisms developing within an animal in its lifetime

A

proximate causes of behaviour

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5
Q

When communication signals exploit existing sensory abilities and biases in the receivers

A

sensory exploitation

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6
Q

Due to processes such as sensory exploitation, the result is not always ideal but is functional

A

Principle of Imperfect (Panda principle)

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7
Q

Signals communicated to rivals that accurately display its dominance potential

A

honest signal hypothesis

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8
Q

What support is there for the honest signal hypothesis (why wouldn’t there be more fakers?)

A

faked signals would be devalued by their commonality. species often check for cheaters, selecting for accuracy.

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9
Q

Predators that mimick mating calls of other species to lure them.

A

illegitimate signallers

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10
Q

why do prey fall victim to deception? (2)

A
  1. Novel environment theory: there has not been enough time to adapt and overcome
  2. Net benefit theory: the gains this behaviour provides outweigh the losses.
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11
Q

predators that use their prey’s signals to locate them

A

illegitimate receivers

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12
Q

the theory that there is no such thing as purely environmentally determined behaviour, nor purely genetically determined behaviour

A

The interactive theory of development

- environmental factors influence which genes are active

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13
Q

distinct yet coexisting phenotypes that allow for individual flexibility

A

polyphenisms

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14
Q

learning to associate a voluntary action with the consequences that follow

A

operant conditioning

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15
Q

behaviour that is not learned by imitation or trial and error. May be modified by experience

A

innate behaviour

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16
Q

where is innate behaviour most advantageous?

A

in predictable environments where a reliable relationship between cue and response exists.

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17
Q

in what environments is learned behaviour advantageous over innate behaviour?

A

unpredictable ones.

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18
Q

what are the 3 main processes of the nervous system?

A
  1. input of info from outside via the senses.
  2. integration and processing of info
  3. output of appropriate activity
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19
Q

What are two important features of the nervous system?

A
  1. incoming info is filtered and sorted

2. incoming signals may be inhibited by other neighbouring impulses to ensure priority.

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20
Q

the study of proximate and ultimate causes of animal behaviour

A

ethology

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21
Q

behaviour pattern that appears fully functional from the first time it is performed. dependent on gene-environment interactions.

A

instinct or Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)

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22
Q

the stimulus that activates a Fixed Action Pattern

A

an innate releasing mechanism

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23
Q

the exploitation of fixed action patterns by other species

A

code breaking

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24
Q

the ability of neurons and neural networks to filter or ignore information that is irrelevant

A

stimulus filtering

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25
Q

neural clusters that play a preprogrammed set of messages to organize motor output

A

central pattern generators

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26
Q

The bias in the somatosensory cortex towards senses more vital to survival and reproduction

A

cortical magnification

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27
Q

A reproduction strategy that results from females living in dense clusters. usually a defence mechanism from predators.

A

Female defence polygyny

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28
Q

a reproduction strategy in which a male usually controls a rich resource

A

resource defence polygyny

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29
Q

Explain the polygyny threshold hypothesis

A

a female may choose polygyny, even at the risk of lower reproductive succcess, because it may be too costly to find another mate or another mate may have poor territory.

30
Q

reproductive strategy in which large territories are too costly to defend and resources or females are sparse

A

scramble competition polygyny

31
Q

reproductive strategy where males do not search for mates, but might fight for a small display arena. Huge mating inequalities.

A

lek polygyny

32
Q

what are 3 possible benefits to lek polygyny?

A
  1. hotspot hypothesis: males congregate at well-trafficked areas of females.
  2. hotshot hypothesis: subordinate males congregate around dominant males
  3. female preference: females prefer clusters of males.
33
Q

3 reasons why traits may not be perfectly adaptive:

A
  1. failure of appropriate mutations to occur
  2. pleiotropy - gene has multiple effects, some positive, some negative
  3. co-evolution - arms race.
34
Q

testing predictions about whether or not other species will exhibit a trait.

A

the comparative method.

35
Q

so much prey that the predator is overwhelmed

A

the dilution effect

36
Q

individuals are treated as game participants, whose success is dependent on rival’s behaviour

A

game theory.

37
Q

animals group together for individual benefit, aiming for a central position

A

selfish herd theory

38
Q

method used to quantitatively determine value of traits. adaptations have greater benefits-to-cost ratio than the alternatives that have been replaced via natural selection

A

optimality theory

39
Q

where two phenotypes coexist because as one declines the other becomes more advantageous and vice versa, reaching an equilibrium

A

frequency dependent selection

40
Q

the ability to be flexible. higher ranking individuals may get to chose their strategies while lower ranking individuals must settle for what’s left.

A

conditional strategy

41
Q

when individuals are free to distribute themselves in relation to resource quality and intensity of intraspecific competition, there is a point where an individual can gain a fitness advantage by choosing a lesser value, but more sparsely occupied habitat

A

ideal free distribution theory

42
Q

a strategy that cannot be replaced by an alternative

A

evolutionarily stable strategy

43
Q

contests between ex-residents and replacements intensifies as absence is extended. newcomers become more familiar with their territory and site value to them increases

A

payoff asymmetry hypothesis

44
Q

when individuals expend less energy intimidating familiar neighbouring rivals

A

dear enemy effect.

45
Q

1 male for multiple females

A

polygyny

46
Q

1 females for multiple males

A

polyandry

47
Q

under what two conditions is monogamy favourable to males?

A
  1. if the mate remains receptive after mating

2. the male’s chance of finding another mate is low

48
Q

reproductive theory in which male helps female and this sacrifice is compensated by more offspring produced

A

mate assistance hypothesis

49
Q

2 examples of sexually monopolizing partners

A
  1. mate guarding hypothesis

2. female-enforced monogamy

50
Q

under what conditions does monogamy occur in mammals?

A

when females are sparsely populated in small territories (easy for males to guard)

51
Q

under what conditions is polyandry common?

A

a shortage of suitable territories and a limited number of females . in some species the female can’t adequately care for more than 4 eggs, so it’s beneficial to have multiple clutches with multiple partners.

52
Q

what are 3 genetic/indirect benefits of polyandry?

A
  1. Fertility insurance hypothesis: secures females against the possibility of an infertile mate
  2. good genes hypothesis: offspring from multiple partners may have a better chance of survival
  3. genetic compatibility hypothesis: increased genetic variety boosts chance of female receiving unusually compatible genes.
53
Q

what are 4 material/direct benefits of polyandry?

A
  1. more resources hypothesis: partners supply resources to the female
  2. more care hypothesis: more partners = more caregivers
  3. better protection hypothesis: more protectors from harassment
  4. infanticide reduction hypothesis: more uncertainty about paternity = fewer males with no stake in offspring survival
54
Q

explain sexual selection theory

A

solution to why extravagant courtship behaviours have developed. although behaviour seems costly, increased reproduction must compensate for likely shorter lives.

55
Q

explain the sexual differences theory

A

males compete for females, because of supply and demand. there are many more eggs than sperm, therefore female reproductive success is limited by number of eggs produced not number of mates. quality versus quantity.

56
Q

why are females more likely to exhibit parental care?

A

more care equals greater chance of survival, but less ability to produce more offspring (numbers game). a male might miss reproductive opportunities. males can’t be assured offspring are truly theirs.

57
Q

ratio of sexually active males to sexually receptive females

A

operational sex ratio

58
Q

what types of species are more likely to exercise parental care, why?

A

short-lived and therefore low reproducing, species. longer-lived species have more chances to reproduce in their lives.

59
Q

why do males exhibit parental care?

A

if they can care for more eggs than females can produce, then care behaviour is more costly to females, and a male must defend a territory anyways.

60
Q

individuals donate help when others need it, in exchange for help when they need it themselves

A

reciprocal altruism

61
Q

a social interaction where both directly benefit immediately

A

cooperation

62
Q

a social interaction where one individual directly benefits immediately and another directly later

A

postponed cooperation

63
Q

a social interaction where one individual directly benefits, and the favour is returned to another individual later

A

reciprocity

64
Q

When the frequency occurrence of a helpful gene increases rather than decreases as a result of altruistic behaviour

A

inclusive fitness rule

65
Q

The explanation for why extravagant courtship behaviours have evolved.

A

sexual selection theory

66
Q

why do males compete for females and not vice versa?

A

sexual differences theory. Many more sperm exist than eggs (supply and demand). female reproductive success is limited by number of eggs produced, not number of mates, so quality is more important than quantity.

67
Q

why does adoption occur?

A

costs of caring for other’s offspring outweighs costs of potentially rejecting own offspring.

68
Q

what is the mafia hypothesis?

A

that parasite parents may seek revenge if they return to find their eggs harmed

69
Q

what is the gradual shift hypothesis?

A

the theory that brood parasitism developed gradually, with species first parasitizing intraspecifics, possibly those that shared nests. Supported by the fact that species new to parasitism target similar species.

70
Q

why do parents show favouritism?

A

they might be targetting those that need care the most (females) or those most likely to succeed (first hatched). Sometimes resources are directed to those that can produce the most offspring.

71
Q

why do some parents allow siblicide?

A

the brood eliminates the weak, allocating limited resources to those likely to survive, therefore saving the parents time and energy.

Animal Behaviour (1 decks)

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