Rituals

Question 1

Rituals in animal behaviour

Answer 1

Highly stereotyped, repetitive and often exaggerated behaviors performed during specific encounters.

Question 2

Why are rituals reliable?

Answer 2

They require ann input in time and energy and often do not help animals in other ways.

Question 3

Reason for rituals

Answer 3

Mate selection
Courtship
Territorial displays
Conflict resolution

Question 4

Examples for mate selection

Answer 4

Birds of paradise (Paradisaeidae sp.) dance and sing and build nests to attract a female.
Blue footed boobies (Sula brisson) gift sticks and twigs to potential mates. (They dont even build nests)

Question 5

Example for courtship

Answer 5

Cichlidae fish, as well as great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus)

Question 6

Example for territorial displays

Answer 6

Red deer (Cervus elephas)

Question 7

Example for conflict resolution

Answer 7

Wolves, canis lupus.

Question 8

2 evolutionary pathways to rituals

Answer 8

Exaggeration of pre-existing functional behaviours
Or, Reduction of ambiguity.

Question 9

Example of an evolved pre-existing behaviour

Answer 9

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae sp.) males present food to females before she is sitting on eggs in a courtship display.

Question 10

Example of reduced ambiguity

Answer 10

Asian water monitors (Varanus salvator) head bob to assert territorial dominance