Final Exam Class 2 (behavioral ecology) Flashcards
what is behavioral ecology?
behavioral adaptation that evolved in response to ecological selection pressures
what is proximate causation?
how actions occur,, physical, mechanical, neurological, hormonal etc.
what is ultimate causation
why actions occur,, evolutionarily why is this action done?
behavior can evolve through
natural selection (just like any other phenotype)
example of proximate causation
cortisol and oxytocin (stress and empathy hormones released)
example of ultimate causation
in social species traits that strengthen social bonds are favored by natural selection
- when the population is feeling better, the health of the species goes up, their access to resources will be better, and they will be less vulnerable to threats
innate behavior
genetic, instinctual, fixed action patterns
what is an example of an innate behavior
yawning
what is a learned behavior
behaviors that result from specific experiences, endured change
what are fitness trade offs?
exists for each type of behavior
- you cannot maximize two behaviors at the same time
- analyzed using cost-benefit analysis
two important things about behavior
- choices are not usually conscious
- behavior varies within a population
example of a learned behavior
pavlovs dogs
proximate cause of foraging behavior
-genetics (rovers) or (sitters)
ultimate cause of foraging behavior
different environmental conditions
what is the optimal foraging theory
the way an animal maximizes energy (food) intake while minimizing costs (ex. movements, predation)
