Higher Biology - Unit 3 - Part 6 - Social Behaviour

Question 1

Why does co-operative hunting benefit both the dominant and subordinate animals?

Answer 1

• Cooperative hunting may benefit subordinate animals as well as dominant,
• subordinate animal may gain more food than by foraging alone;
• food sharing will occur as long as the reward for sharing exceeds that for foraging individually.
• Less energy is used per individual.

Question 2

An altruistic behaviour harms the donor individual but ____________ the recipient

Answer 2

benefits

Question 3

How can altruistic behaviour between a donor and a related recipient actually benefit a donor?

Answer 3

The donor will benefit in terms of the increased chances of survival of shared genes in the recipient’s offspring or future offspring. (kin selection)

Question 4

Wolves in a pack are very aware of the rank of each animal in the pack. This is called…

Answer 4

social hierarchy

Question 5

If a group of buffalo work together to scare off a lion, this is called….

Answer 5

social defence

Question 6

Vampire bats sharing their food with others at the end of a night’s hunting, on the assumption that the favour will be returned another time is an example of ….

Answer 6

reciprocal altruism

Question 7

In colonies of social insects such as bees how does reproduction happen ….

Answer 7

only some individuals (queens and drones) of the colony contribute reproductively. Most members of the colony are sterile workers who cooperate with close relatives to raise relatives.

Question 8

In an ecosystem, social insects are often considered to be ______________ species

Answer 8

keystone

Question 9

Long period of parental care in primates gives an opportunity to

Answer 9

learn complex social behaviours

Question 10

To reduce unnecessary conflict, social primates use…

Answer 10

ritualistic display and appeasement behaviours

Question 11

Appeasement behaviours can include…

Answer 11

• Grooming,
• facial expression,
• body posture and
• sexual presentation