Intro Flashcards
The study of how animals interact with the environment and each other is known as what?
ecology
What is behavioural ecology?
The study of how animals interact with and within their environment to explain the survival and reproductive value (I.e: evolutionary significance) of behaviour, through a variety of theories and models.
Why is behavioural ecology important?
It helps predict trends/ finds Patterns
What are Tingergen’s 4 questions
Function
Evolution
Causation
Development
Give an example of a Function question
Why is the animal performing the behaviour?
Give an example of an evolution question
How did the behaviour evolve?
Give an example of a Causation question
What causes the behaviour to be performed?
Give an example of a development question
How has the behaviour developed during the lifetime of the individual?
What are the 2 levels of Tinbergen’s questions
Ultimate (function & evolution)
Proximate (Causation & Development)
What do ultimate explanations suggest
They explain WHY behaviour has evolved
What do proximate explanations suggest
They explain mechanical reasons for why a behaviour is expressed
What is a key difference between ultimate and proximate explanations
Ultimate takes a longer perspective
Proximate answers the question immediately
