Intro Flashcards
what is a proximate cause?
Immediate - why/how the behavior occurs
What is an ultimate cause?
Why the behavior occurs (evolutionary and historical reasons)
What type of causes do behavioral ecologists mostly focus on?
Ultimate causes
What are two examples of proximate causes?
Development: How genetic0developmental mechanisms influence the assembly of an animal and its internal components
Mechanism: How neuronal-hormonal mechanisms that develop in an animal during its lifetime control what an animal can do behaviorally
What are two examples of ultimate causes?
Evolutionary History: History of a behavioral traits as affected by descent with modification from ancestral species
Adaptive Function: Adaptive value of a behavioral trait as affected by the process of evolution by natural selection
What is mate guarding
Avoiding losing a current mate while warding off same sex rivals. Leads to monogamy in animals
How would mate guarding be seen in ancestral species
Polygynous males attempt to dominate other males and control groups of females
How would mate guarding be seen in intermediate ancestral species (4 points)
Infantcidal males (gain mates by abandoning offspring) -> Promiscuous females protect young against male infanticide -> Mate guarding males, which prevent female promiscuity -> Parental males, which care for offspring
How would mate guarding be seen in modern species
Monogamous pairs
What genes affect male pairing behavior in prairie vole
Lac-Z/CP
V1aR-CP
V1aR-VP
What is the effect of each of these genes in terms of time in contact with others?
Laz-z/CP - Slightly more time spent with partner
V1aR-CP - Slightly more time spent with stranger
V1aR-VP - Significantly more time spent with partner
What are the effects of altering these genes on time spent huddling
Males with genetically modifies V1aR-VP and Ctrl-VP genes spend more time huddling than unaltered males
