Human Behaviour & Ecology

Question 1

What is assortative mating?

Answer 1

A form of non random mating in which pair bonds are established on the basis of a particular phenotypical trait

Question 2

What is positive assortative mating?

Answer 2

When people choose to mate with those phenotypically similar to themselves

Question 3

What is negative (dis assortative) mating?

Answer 3

When individuals with dissimilar phenotypes or genotypes maye with one another more frequently than expected under random mating

Question 4

What is an altruistic behaviour?

Answer 4

A behaviour that conveys and individual fitness cost to the actor and a fitness benefit to the receiver

Question 5

Female mate preferences

Answer 5

Older men, demonstrate ability to survive

Question 6

Male mate preferences

Answer 6

Younger, they demonstrate a higher reproductive value

Question 7

What is an adaptation?

Answer 7

Traits that offer an advantage in a given environment

Question 8

What are the types of adaptations?

Answer 8

• structural
• physiological
• behavioural

Question 9

What are some examples of species wide adaptations?

Answer 9

Stereoscopic vision, opposable thumb, voice

Question 10

What are some examples of population specific adaptations?

Answer 10

Body shape, lactose tolerance

Question 11

What is acclimation?

Answer 11

Very short term (minutes to hours) response to an environmental stressor

Question 12

What is acclimatisation?

Answer 12

Short term (days to weeks) response to an environmental stressor

Question 13

Genetic adaptation vs. Cultural adaptation

Answer 13

Modification: genetic/evolutionary vs. Behavioural/developmental
Transmission: Vertical (parent to offspring) vs. Vertical and horizontal
Speed: very slow (random mutation) vs rapid (goal directed
Direction: relatively irreversible vs. Reversible

Question 14

What are some similarities between cultural and genetic adaptation?

Answer 14

• both provide advantages for a given environment

- both results in changes over many generations

Question 15

Define convergent evolution

Answer 15

The independent evolution of similar traits within a species

Question 16

Define a cline

Answer 16

A measurable gradient of a single trait across a geographical range

Question 17

Define cultural adaptation

Answer 17

The capability of humans to overcome changes in their natural environments through changes in their behaviour and culture

Question 18

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

Answer 18

In the conversion of energy from one form to another, energy is neither lost nor gained from a system

Question 19

What is the second law of thermodynamics?

Answer 19

Energy conversions result in a loss of free energy in the system (increased entropy)

Question 20

What is Leibigs law of the minimum?

Answer 20

Distribution of a species in a cape is controlled by the environmental factor for which the organism has the lowest range of adaptability or control

Question 21

What is a limiting factor?

Answer 21

Change in level of a resource results in a change of carry capacity of a population

Question 22

What is a regulating factor?

Answer 22

Change in a level of a factor that changes vital rates as population density increases.

Question 23

What is Bergman’s rule?

Answer 23

Lower ambient temperatures is reflected in larger body size

Question 24

What is Allen’s rule?

Answer 24

Length of appendages decreases with decreasing mean temperature

Question 25

What was an advantage of agriculture with cooking?

Answer 25

Infants would be weaned earlier, shorter inter birth intervals

Question 26

Proximate explanations of behaviour

Answer 26

What controls the behaviour on a day to day basis

Question 27

Ultimate explanations of behaviour

Answer 27

How does the behaviour increase survival and reproduction (fitness)

Question 28

Female contribution to offspring

Answer 28

• genetic material
• gestation
• lactation
• care of juveniles

Question 29

Male contribution to offspring

Answer 29

• genetic material
• resources (some mammals)
• protection (some mammals)
• care (very few mammals)

Question 30

Hamilton’s rule for kin selection

Answer 30

rB > C