Parental behavior 1 Flashcards
parental behaviour def
Behavior expressed by parents towards
their offspring- providing food, shelter,
warmth and social contact
parental behaviour is a special case of X behviour
social
A special case of social behavior:
Between special individuals (closely x)
At special x of life (peri-natal to weaning)
At special x (birth site)
Special form of fitness cost & benefit rules
A special case of social behavior:
Between special individuals (closely related)
At special time of life (peri-natal to weaning)
At special locations (birth site)
Special form of fitness cost & benefit rules
Parental behavior: the evolutionary
perspective
◼ Contribution to xx theory
◼ Contribution to inclusive fitness theory
inclusive fitness theory
def/explain
REVIEW
explains how natural selection can favor behaviors that enhance the reproductive success of an individual’s relatives, even at a cost to the individual’s own direct reproduction.
r x b > c
Parental investment is paid off with
offspring survival
When a related animal helps another related animal to Reproduce or survive to pass
on genes to next generation.
◼ Offspring’s survival increases heritable
potential/fitness of parents
parent-offspring conflict theory
REVIEW
MATH
offspring demand more ressources than the mother can provide
goals:
offspring: benefit from parents. the more care/ressources the better
parents: provide care depending on cost benefit payoff and availability of resources
Parent-Offspring Conflict:
All scenarios are beneficial to the x; but
only the first two increase the x fitness.
All scenarios are beneficial to the offspring; but
only the first two increase the parent’s fitness.
reproductive strategies (3)
Litter size
- Large litter- increase population quickly
Developmental stage of young
-Well developed young- less risk of loss
Parental investment
- None, single parent, pair-bond
Oligotocous and polytocous
defs
Oligotocous : one or few young at each birth
Polytocous: large litter at each birth
Altricial and precocial def and ex
Altricial: hatched or born early in
development- ex rodents
Precocial: hatched or born late in
development. ex ungulates
Precocial vs altricial and socialization
explain when each begin socialization
see graph after
precocial (born late)- they begin to communicate with mom before birth. (movement or changes in heart rate, hormones)
altricial (born early)- socialization begins after birth. for ex some even deaf and blind when born.
predatory vs prey:
predators tend to be altricial or precoial?
* Predators- leave offspring to hunt.
predators tend to be altricial
* Predators- leave offspring to hunt
they hide the babies to avoid risking safety and go hunt.
single vs multiple:
single offspring tend to be altricial or precocial?
single offspring tend to be
precocial
- because they receive more resources and attention from the parent, allowing them to develop more quickly and become independent sooner
pair-bond vs polygamous:
pair bonds tend to be altricial or precocial?
altricial
both mom and dad take care of baby. more care tf more likely altricial
R vs K selection
this is a scale
R def
Million of eggs spread
into env. No parental
care at all. Small
proportion survive
R = reproduction
2 basic strategies for reproduction
this is a scale
K def
Put all energy for one
offspring then rest of
energy into parental
care to ensure
survival
early care:
parental investment begins with …
gamete production
early care: differential investment between males and females
eggs- large or small investment. why?
sperm- large or small investment. why?
◼ Eggs- larger investment, limited number
-Mate selection- choosy
◼ Sperm- smaller investment, large numbers
- Mate selection- Less discriminating!
birth and bonding:
parental behaviour beomes a social behaviour when.. x and x
parental behaviour beomes a social behaviour when young are hatched or born and when the young start to repsond or emit signals
licking off offpring
cause?
function?
cause:
-natural intrict
-hormonal change
function:
-keeps warm, stimulates circulatin of blood, stimulates breathing
-promotes bonding- physical contact and scent
-stimulates the release of newborn fluids- urine and sweat
-stimulates release of milk from mother
Mother-offspring bond:
◼ Precocial ungulates have 2 strategies of newborn care
name and ex of animal
Hiders- deer, cattle
Followers- sheep, goats
cattle and some species can switch between strategies
- this is influenced by the bahvior of the dam (predation risk, ressources, etc)
Use of shelter by ewes
at parturition:
sheltering behaviour increased if ewes were recently x
shorn
-cooler tf needed more shelter
shows that management influecnes behaviour
How ewes recognize lambs:
3 ways
birth fluids
odor
later uses visual and auditory recognition
How lambs recognize ewe:
visual and auditory cues
period of maternal responsiveness def
short period following birth that the mother exhibits a strong, caring behavior
words of the day
dog and bovine
Creche formation sheep
Move away spend time with other. Distance increases over time
weaning: nursing bouts
shift from ‘on demand’ to being
controlled by ewe
nursing is controlled by the..
this can cause a parent/offspring x
-this occurs when the demands may impact the next years x
ewe
conflict
offspring
-Will give what’s needed then
cut off bc costing the mom.
