Lecture 6: Chapter 8

Question 1

Behaviours Key Concept 1:

Answer 1

• Evolution is the basis for adaptive behaviours

Question 2

Proximate Causes:

Answer 2

• immediate
• how the behaviour occurs

Question 3

Ultimate Causes:

Answer 3

• why the behaviour occurs
• the evolutionary and historical reasons
• Ex. puppy dog eyes why does the behaviour occur and its evolutionary history

Question 4

What About Complex Behaviour:

Answer 4

• The genes that built a home
• The tunnel can thought of as an extended phenotype of the field mouse
• Can also look at the behaviour through the tunnel

Question 5

Evolutionary Progress:

Answer 5

• No evolutionary progress its evolutionary selection that occurs on the progress
• Environment determines this

Question 6

Behaviours Key Concept 2:

Answer 6

• Animals make behavioural choices that enhance their energy gain and reduce their risk of becoming prey
• Evolution and evolutionary thinking closely linked to economics

Question 7

Animals will Maximize Profitability:

Answer 7

1. Visual
2. Mathematical
3. Conceptual
   - Still gaining energy after optimal point

Question 8

Optimal Foraging Theory:

Answer 8

• Animals will maximize the amount of energy gained per unit of feeding time (profitability), and minimize the risks involved
• This does not apply well to animals that eat mobile prey
• Animals might not conform to models as evolution is not perfect
• The assumption that energy is in short supply and that this dictates foraging behaviour may not always hold

Question 9

Behaviours Key Concept 3:

Answer 9

• Mating behaviours reflect the costs and benefits of parental investment and mate defence