Semester 1 Final: Behavior Ecology Flashcards
Proximate Causation
focuses on the environmental stimuli that triggers behavior and the mechanism that allowed for the behavior to occur
Ultimate Causation
focus on the evolutionary significance of the behavior and how it contributes to survival and/or reproductive fitness
example of Proximate Causation
seasonal change, visual stimulus, hormonal changes, touch stimulus
example of Ultimate Causation
wolves exhibit agonistic behavior to increase social standing in order to gain more resources (ie mates, territory, food)
Kinesis
– innate behavior
– Directed movement
– A change in activity or turning rate based on a stimuli
– Once desirable conditions are obtained the movement will decrease
Taxis
– innate behavior
– Directed movement
– Automatic directional movement toward (positive)
or away (negative) from a specific stimuli
– Examples: phototaxis, chemotaxis, geotaxis
Communication
transmission, reception, and response to signals
– both innate & learned behavior
Signal
a behavior that causes a change in the behavior of another animal
Visual Communication
– Visual displays relay essential information
– Useful for animals that are diurnal
Chemical Communication
– Odors relay essential information
– Useful for nocturnal animals
– Pheromones
Sound/Auditory Communication
– Vocalizations are used to relay essential information
– Useful for both diurnal & nocturnal species
Mating & Mate Choice Behavior
– Seeking, choosing, attracting, & competing for a mate
Altruism
– social behavior
– When animals behave in a way that decreases their
fitness but increase the fitness of others in the
population
– kin selection
Kin selection
increasing survival of close relatives
to keep those genes in the population
Optimal Foraging Theory
– A compromise between the benefits of nutrition & the costs of obtaining food
– Focuses on energy costs & predation costs
