Genes and behaviour (L2, G.D) Flashcards
What is the definition of behavioural variation?
Behavioural variation refers to the differences in behaviour observed within and between species
What is behavioural variation influenced by?
genetic, environmental, and developmental factors.
What is an Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS)? What is it determined by?
An Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS) is a strategy that cannot be invaded by a rare mutant strategy that yields a higher fitness.
-determined by the costs and resource values an individual obtains based on the rest of the population’s strategies.
What does the best strategy for an individual depend on?Give an example
-what the rest of the population is doing
-Costs
-Value they obtain on average
E.g.) choosing whether to attack or run away depending on opponent etc.
Define Instinctive behaviour. What does it stem from?
a type of behaviour that is hardwired and exhibited by individuals without prior experience, often stemming from genetic influences.
What ultimately underpin each strategy?
gene(s)
How do genetic influences affect behaviour?
determine specific traits associated with behaviour, such as aggression or mating strategies, which can vary across individuals and species.
Define Phenotypic plasticity
he ability of an organism to alter its phenotype in response to environmental conditions without changing its underlying genotype.
What does the term ‘bold-shy personality continuum’ refer to in animal behaviour? What in particular?
describes consistent behavioural differences among individuals, particularly their willingness to take risks.
What are Reaction norms?
graphical representations that illustrate how a genotype’s phenotype varies across different environmental conditions.
In the context of the Evolutionary Stable Strategy, what factors influence an individual’s best strategy?
An individual’s best strategy depends on the behaviours exhibited by others in the population (frequency dependence) and the relative costs and benefits of different strategies.
Define Gene-environment interaction
the phenomenon where genetic expression and behaviour are influenced by environmental factors.
What is the significance of serotonin in behaviour?
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, cognition, and various bodily functions, and its levels can influence different behavioural outcomes across species.
Describe the behaviour of “hawks” and “doves” in the context of fighting strategies.
“Hawks” fight hard and retreat only if seriously injured, while “doves” threaten without causing injury and retreat if attacked, reflecting different strategies of aggression in a population.
What is assumed about those behaviours?
that they are fixed in an individual; the outcome of the behaviour impacts on fitness–> passing on that behaviour trait to the next generation
What usually happens to the number of hawks and doves?
there will be a stabilisation point at which neither gain an advantage (selection does not favour either).
Define Animal personality. What does this influence?
consistent behavioural differences among individuals over time and across various contexts, influencing their interactions with the environment.
How does environmental information influence behaviour?
by determining availability, reliability, and an organism’s capacity to process it, which shapes adaptive responses to challenges.
What is Risk-taking behaviour?
a tendency to engage in actions that expose individuals to danger; it can be a personality trait measured by responses to aversive stimuli.
What is the Evolutionary Stable Strategy?
useful theoretical model for understanding phenotypic (behavioural) variation within population and across generations
Name some assumptions of ESS
-Assumes costs and fitness values are fixed at every interaction
-Assumes behaviour is underpinned by a single allele
-Does not account for flexible behaviour
Name some factors that affect selection
-Environment–> what others are doing, risk, resource availability, information availability
-Organisms state:
–> physiology
–> morphology
–> info processing abilities
What does genetic variation imply about adaptive behaviour?
suggests that adaptive behaviour has a heritable component, allowing selection to act upon traits that enhance fitness within a population.
What is the hormonal influence on behaviour? Give an example
mating, aggression, and social interactions, which can vary between individuals.
E.g.) sex-dependent relationship between serotonin and boldness in zebrafish
What evolve to produce species-specific motor behaviour?
neural circuits
Describe Homoplasy in swimming behaviour
in Nudipleura, swimming behaviours have evolved convergently/independently rather than through shared ancestry, demonstrating homoplasy.
Define homoplasy
Homoplasy refers to traits or behaviours that evolve independently in different species, often as adaptations to similar challenges.
Define Dorsal Swim Interneuron (DSI)
DSI is a neuron found in Nudipleura species, which may have different roles in producing swimming behaviours depending on the species.
Homologous neurons across species
such as DSI and IC2, are present across species but may function differently in generating—or not generating—swimming behaviours.
Explain what a “breeding lek” is in relation to behavioural variation
a communal display area where males exhibit courtship behaviours to attract females, highlighting behavioural variation and strategies within a species.
How does the gut microbiome influence behaviour?
the trillions of organisms living in the digestive tracts influence overall health, behaviour, and cognitive function through various biochemical interactions.
What are the implications of gene transfer experiments in voles regarding behaviour? What does this suggest?
shown that increasing the expression of certain genes can alter behavioural patterns, such as pair-bonding in non-monogamous species, demonstrating the genetic basis of behaviour.
Define behavioural ecology. What does it focus on?
he study of the evolutionary and ecological basis of animal behaviour, focusing on how behaviour contributes to survival and reproductive success.
What is the role of the Nucleus accumbens in social behaviour?
part of the reward system in the brain, where neuronal activity reinforces mate preferences, impacting social and reproductive behaviours.
What is the significance of Behavioural variation within species? What is it influenced by?
differences in behaviour observed among individuals of the same species, influenced by genetic, environmental, and developmental factors.
How do hybrid animals display behavioural variation?
often exhibit intermediate behavioural traits between their parent species, providing insights into the genetic and evolutionary basis of behaviour.
