Social Behaviour Flashcards
What is social behaviour?
Many animals live in social groups and have behaviours that are adapted to group living.
Examples of group living
•Social hierarchy
•Co operative hunting
•Social defence
What is social hierarchy
Rank order within a group of animals consisting of a dominant and subordinate members.
What happens in a social hierarchy
Dominant individuals carry out ritualistic (threat) displays whilst subordinate animals carry out appeasement Behaviour to reduce conflict.
What do social hierarchies increase the chances of?
The dominant animals favourable genes being passed on to offspring.
Why do animals often form alliances in social hierarchies?
Animals often form alliances in social hierarchies to increase their social status within the group.
What does co operative hunting benefit?
Benefits subordinate animals as well as dominant ones, as they may gain more food than by foraging alone.
How is energy spread in co operative hunting?
Less energy is used per individual
What does co operative hunting enable?
Enables larger prey to be caught and increases the chance of success.
What do social defence strategies increase the chance of?
Increases the chance of survival as some individuals can watch for predators whilst others can forage for food.
What do groups adopt?
Groups adopt specialised formations when under attack protecting their young.
What does an altruistic behaviour do
Harms the donor individual but benefits the recipient.
What is reciprocal altruism
Where the roles of donor and recipient later reverse, often occurs in social animals.
Behaviour that appears to be altruistic…
Can be common between a donor and a recipient if they are related (Kin).
How will the donor benefit in kin selection?
The donor will benefit in kin selection in terms of the increased chances of survival of shared genes in the recipients offspring or future offspring.
