Midterm Flashcards
learned irrelevance is a mechanism that decreases the learning of ecological irrelevant information as a result of…
random pairings of conditioned vs unconditioned stimuli over time
the traditional ethological approach to the study of behaviour emphasizes..
the adaptive value of behavioural phenotypes
the optimality modelling approach assumes…
optimize context dependent tradeoffs
the adaptive landscape model predicts…
phenotypes are subject to selective constraints
threat sensitive learning suggest that the strength of learning is
proportional to the strength of the unconditioned stimuli
the concept of an ontogenetic niche predicts that
the acquisition of non-genetically linked traits can be inherited
the expression “natural selection is backward looking” implies…
f1 phenotypes are the results of environments experienced by P
generalist foraging patterns amongst foraging animals are expected when…
search cost is high and pursuit costs are low
error management theory predicts that ecological uncertainty should…
increase the cost of Type 2 errors
the observation that it is easy to condition rats to avoid certain foods with taste than avoid certain foods by color is an example of?
cue salience
What is the ethological approach?
This approach focuses on the evolution of the behaviour
What is the dangerous Niche hypothesis?
Predicts more neophobia in high risk enviornments.
what is the threat-sensitive predator avoidance model?
prey animals adjust the intensity of their antipredator response based on the level of threat
what is ideal free distribution?
animals will distribute themselves acorss the field based off competitors present in the area
what is phenotypic plasticity?
differential expression of phenotype within population .
whats the difference between personalities and syndromes?
personality: repeated correlation of behaviours over time
syndrome: repeatable correlations between plenty of phenotypes
What is a basic foraging model?
what and where to forage (on)
what is the optimal foraging theory?
- foragers should always accept the most profitable food item
- they should accept successively less profitable items only when E/T would be less than the mean E/T
- prey types of low quality should always be rejected
what is a specialist forager?
if pursuit time is high and search time is low
What is the economic model of territoriality?
benefits: exclusive access to limited resources
costs: energy expenditure, risk of injury, increased predation,
How to know if an individual will forage on a patch?
if E (basic costs of life) < aP (productivity gain if NOT defending
What is the consumer resource ratio?
relationship between consumers and their resources
What is RHP?
resource holding potential, therefore the individuals capacity to win a contest over a resource
