Lecture 11- Individual Variation in Behaviour Flashcards
examples of different behavioural phenotypes
producer and scrounger- finding food vs taking food others have found- under negative frequency-dependence based on fitness
where has this producer/scrounger model been tested
in birds- one side for each behaviour- can see how birds distribute themselves
more scroungers in the uncovered patch- possibly a more advantageous behaviour, as food is more easily available?
how does the separation occur
end up with a binomial distribution of phenotypes, can see very quick separation out into types
example of a conditional strategy
different ‘morphs’- e.g. in common side-blotched lizard- ‘rock paper scissors’ type OBY colour morphs
size morphs in marine isopods
male tactic morphs in blue-gill sunfish (parental, sneaker, satellite)
genetic characteristics of morphs
often a single gene region which is important- helpful in selection, often obvious- good to see what the situation is
what is a behavioural syndrome
set of correlated traits, e.g. ‘aggressive’ or ‘dispersal’ behaviour
mechanisms of variation
may not be genetic- found no genetic correlation in a species of fish- individuality can emerge in a variety of ways
example of a behavioural structure which can change based on the environment
fewer behavioural correlations in predator-free environments- less need for a proper ‘aggressive phenotype’