Intraspecific Relationships Flashcards
Aggressive
The stalking and killing of other species, aggression directed at members of the same species to establishing dominance, or attacks delivered when an animal is cornered or approached by another animal.
Aggressive behaviour can lead to injury and possibly death.
Agonistic
A threat display by an individual defending a resource and attempting to avoid harmful conflict
Alpha/beta
Designates hierarchy member’ status - alphas are the dominant male or female. Next down may be one or more beta individuals
Cooperative interactions
Interaction in which an individual , called an altruist, increases the chances of survival of other individuals due to its sacrificial behaviour
Courtship
Ritualised displays used to attract a mate and which may eventually lead to mating and reproduction. Sometimes used to reinforce a pair-bond.
- Male species usually initiates
Dominance
Occurs when an individual within a group enforces their place in a hierarchy, often using agonistic behaviours
Hierarchy
A type of intraspecific interaction where a group has individuals that are dominant or submissive to other members of the group.
Usually arise when members of a social group repeatedly interact which leads to the creation of a social order. The order is maintained by ritualised activities such as grooming, threats, displays, vocalisations. Subject to change if a dominant animal is successfully challenged by a subordinate one. Such challenges are often very aggressive as both individuals fight to either maintain their position or improve it.
Home range
The area in which an animal lives and moves around in. Related to the concept of ‘territory’ which is the area that is actively defended
Intraspecific
Interactions between members of the same species.
Kin selection
Altruistic behaviour towards closely related individuals that share some of the same genes
Monogamy
A mating system where one male and one female form an exclusive social pair bond
Parental care
Behaviours displayed by parents in the raising of offspring including feeding, defending from predation and teaching behaviours necessary for survival
Reproductive effort
Time and energy expended in finding a mate and successfully reproducing
Sexual dimorphism
Male and female members of species show differeny body appendages, size and or colourations. Particularly common in birds.
Submissive
Animal behaviour in which an individual attempts through appeasement displays to avoid injury by a dominant member of its grouo
Territory
The area actively defended from intrusion by members of the same species and occasionally from animals of other species
Intraspecific competition
Competition between members of the same species occurs because they have the same niche and so compete for exactly the same resources. Tends to be more intense that interspecific competition.
How does Intraspecific competition impact population size?
Intraspecific competition tends to have a stabilising influence on population size. If the population gets too big, intrapsecific competition increases. If the population gets too small, intraspecific competition decreases.
Therefore, it is density-dependent.
Overall negative effect on populations as it leads to increased aggression between members of that population and physiological stress in individuals.
What are advantages of living in a cooperative group?
- Protection from physical environment
- Detection of threats
- Defence
- Role specialisation
- Foraging/hunting capability
- Availability of mates
Disadvantages of living in a cooperative group
- Competition
- Disease
Benefits of dominance
- First access to prey and can feed for longer without being interrupted
- Spend less time foraging/hunting, reduces risk of predation
- increased chance of survival
- Males have higher reproductive success
- Females produce more surviving offspring
- Offspring have better biological fitness
Costs of dominance
- Higher metabolic rates
- Higher levels of stress hormones
- Need to consume more food in order to maintain fitness and activity levels
Territorial behaviour
The actions used to establish and maintain that territory against others of the same species
K-strategist
Strategy that emphasises a slow population growth rate by producing fewer offspring that reach sexual maturity slowly in order to better exploit stable environments.
