Lecture 6: Behavioural Evolution - Mechanisms & Constraints

Question 1

Define ‘evolution’.

Answer 1

Change over time.

Question 2

Define ‘adaptation’.

Answer 2

A characteristic that confers higher performance on individuals than any other existing alternative exhibited by other individuals within the population.

Question 3

Define ‘fitness’.

Answer 3

A measure of the genes contributed to the next generation by an individual - often quantified as the number of offspring an individual has.

Question 4

Define ‘heritable’.

Answer 4

Proportion of variance in a trait that is due to genetic effects.

Question 5

Define ‘natural selection’.

Answer 5

The process that produces evolutionary change when individuals differ in heritable traits that are correlated with differences in their individual reproductive success.

Question 6

Under what circumstances will evolution by natural selection occur?

Answer 6

If there is variation between individuals in heritable traits that affect survival and reproduction.

Question 7

Give the breeder’s equation.

Answer 7

R = h(squared) x S.

R = response to selection
h = heritability
S = selection differential.

Question 8

Define ‘personality’.

Answer 8

It is estimated as a repeatibility coefficient.

Question 9

Which factors can be used to measure personality?

Answer 9

Docility and boldness.

Question 10

Why may evolution cease even when selection is still applied?

Answer 10

1. Lack of genetic variation
2. Antagonistic pleiotropy
3. Trade-offs.