Lecture 11 Flashcards

1
Q

What is a group of female pigs with their offspring called?

A

a sounder

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2
Q

What are the different forms of group living among domesticated species?

A
  • Pigs: female group, male group or solitary
  • Horses: harems, bachelor herds
  • Sheep: ewe flocks, seasonal male flocks
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3
Q

What is the difference between wild and feral?

A

wild: never been domesticated
feral: been domesticated but let back into wild (pigs, horses)

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4
Q

What are the soay sheep on St.Kilda?

A
  • island off the coast of Scotland
  • 1,000 sheep
  • most primitive form of domestic sheep, arrived around 4,000 years ago
  • went feral 1,000 years ago
  • Ewe flocks with infant and juvenile offspring, on home ranges, groups and range are consistant, form small sub-groups for grazing
  • Rams disperse and form small groups, establish home range, disband during breeding (rut)
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5
Q

What is the usask feral horse research?

A
  • Sable Island ponies - around 400 horses (herd size increasing) in Nova Scotia
  • linked to growing grey seal population - hunting from humans decreased
  • horses benefit because seals fertilize the grass
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6
Q

What are the differences and similarities between domestic and wild animals?

A

Domestication of farm species happened 10,000 to 15,000 years ago (short)
Differences: Domesticates have… smaller brains, less active, reduced alarm responses, more socially tolerant
Similarities: same basic social characteristics are found, threshold or frequency of behaviours may change

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7
Q

How does natural selection operate on genetic difference for behaviour to evolve?

A
  • there must be behavioural variation within the population
  • the differences must be heritable - some of the variation must be genetic in orgin
  • some behavioural variations will confer greater reproductive success
  • Behaviour patterns are seleceted that will increase an animals chances of survival and reproduction - “fitness”

highest benefit with the lowest cost

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8
Q

What determines success in evolutionary terms?

A

survival
reproduction

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9
Q

Differences between Suffolk and Blackface sheep for maternal behaviour?

A

Suffolk:
* required more assistance
* abandoned more lambs
* more aggressive
* withdrew more often from lambs

Blackface (wild type):
* shorter labour
* more grooming
* cooperated more during suckling attempts
* lower lamb mortality

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10
Q

How does evolutionary theory explain groups?

A
  • groupos are facilitated by cooperation - but evolutionary theory is usually described in terms of competition among individuals (beneficial to both)
  • theories about selfish traits
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11
Q

What are the theories explaining cooperation?

A

Kin selection
* inclusive fitness theory

Reciprocal altruism
* generosity - I give you something today, you give me something another day

Multi-level (group) Selection
* Some selection occurs at group level
* There is strength in diversity

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12
Q

What is kin selection?

A
  • Individuals can reproduce directly, or indirectly by aiding relatives (still helping gene pool)
  • group living is facilitated by cooperation between individuals - increase genetic contribution by assisting with the success of relatives
  • ex. wolves: others in pack will help raise pups
  • part of the ‘inclusive fitness’ theory
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13
Q

What is Hamilton’s Rule in relatedness?

A

b > c / r
* c = cost (actor)
* b = benefit (recipient)
* r = degree of relatedness

shows how much you’re willing to help someone based on how closely related you are

bigger r= smaller cost

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14
Q

Why would non-relatives cooperate?

A

Reciprocal altruism:
* alternating benefits - long term relationships (I help you, expect something in return) - vampire bats

Multi-level selection:
* groups that cooperate outcompete those that don’t - lions elephants

stable societies - cooperation has long-term benefits

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15
Q

What are the costs and benefits of social groups?

A

Benefits:
* thermal
* foraging
* predation

Costs:
* contamination
* competition
* conspicuous

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16
Q

How does forming groups minimize costs?

A
  • Limit group size - acording to resources and environment
  • Social hierarchy - individuals know their place, dominants have priority access to resources
  • Ritualized threats, posturing (reduces aggression)
  • Social rules to reduce competition - dominant individuals feed first - alliances - preferred patners, allogrooming
17
Q

What are foraging advantages in groups?

A

Detecting food
Acquiring food
Defending food

18
Q

How do groups avoid predators?

A

Detection
Dilution
Defense

19
Q

What is detection when avoiding predators?

A

Sheep - recommended 5 flock size
* detect predators through vigilance
* shared responsibilitiesfor predator detection
* time spent grazing depends on flock size

20
Q

What is dilution in terms of avoiding predators?

A

Wildebeast
* large herds - synchronized calving (predators are satiated)
* causes confusion effect - reduces predator success

21
Q

What do cattle and horses do when avoiding flies?

A

Cattle and flies
* rosette formation

Horses and flies
* head-to-tail

22
Q

Describe the costs of groups.

A

Conspicuous:
* Groups are more easily detected
* Predators can be attracted by communication

Competition:
* Commpetition and prioritized acces to food (hierarchies)
* Acute stress when forming a group: establishing relationships
* Chronic stress from subordination (inability to mate)

Contamination:
* Increased parasite & disease transmission

23
Q

How do you minimize the costs of groups?

A

– Limit group size
* According to resources and environment

– Social hierarchy
* Individuals know their place, dominants have priority access to resources

– Social rules reduce competition
* Dominant individual(s) feed first
* Ritualised threats, posturing: reduces aggression
* Alliances: preferred partners for affiliation, allogrooming

*When groups form- benefits must outweight the costs!

24
Q

True or false: According to the inclusive fitness theory, individuals can improve their genetic contribution by assisting their relatives success, with whom they share genes with.

A

True

25
Q

True or false: Subordination within a group leads to an inability to communicate effectively

A

False

26
Q

Do belding’s ground squirrels recognize close relatives?

A
  • Dont remember eachother after hibernation
  • using body odors as a reference point to figure out who is kin
  • relatives are less likely to fight
27
Q

Do pigs recognize close relatives?

A
  • no recognition of siblings reared apart