Social Combat part 1

Question 1

define predation

Answer 1

the act of an organism killing and then partially or entirely consuming another individual

Question 2

define social predation

Answer 2

consumption of one society by another

Question 3

which is more common: interspecific social predation or intraspecific social predation

Answer 3

• Interspecific social predation is common
• often, the only organism that can effectively prey on a society is another society.

Question 4

define competition

Answer 4

Use or defense of a resource that results in reduced availability of that resource for another organism

Question 5

what kind of interaction is competition

Answer 5

• a consumer-consumer interaction
• not fatal, and so allows for more complexity in interactions and outcomes

Question 6

define Indirect/exploitation competition

Answer 6

Competition without direct contact between consumers.

Question 7

define Direct/interference competition

Answer 7

Competition with direct contact between consumers in access to the resource

Question 8

define Intraspecific competition

Answer 8

Competition among individuals of the same species

Question 9

outcome of interspecific competition

Answer 9

• depresses the population growth of both species
• drive an evolutionary arms race among species to better exploit shared resources.

Question 10

competition and similarity - what makes interspecific competition more intense

Answer 10

Similarity in resource needs

Question 11

competition and similarity - Similarity in structure and function of organisms means what

Answer 11

they need similar resources and compete more intensely

Question 12

competition and similarity - Closely related species typically have what?

Answer 12

• they typically have more similar structure, function, and resource needs due to common ancestry
• and compete more intensively than distantly related species.

Question 13

competition and similarity - what does evolutionary history influence

Answer 13

the level of competition among present-day species

Question 14

define nonrenewable resources

Answer 14

• Finite and only available when relinquished by the individuals using it, or when it is directly taken
• e.g. space.

Question 15

define renewable resources

Answer 15

• Constantly replenished by other processes
• there are 2 ways it can be renewed

Question 16

renewable resources - 2 ways it can be renewed

Answer 16

1. Renewed within the focal ecological system
2. Renewed from outside the ecological system

Question 17

renewable resources: renewed within the focal ecological system - example

Answer 17

births in a prey population constantly replenish predator resources.

Question 18

renewable resources: renewed from outside the ecological system - example

Answer 18

Migrations of prey species

Question 19

Axes of complexity in competition

Answer 19

• Indirect vs. direct competition.
• Intraspecific vs. interspecific competition.
• Similarity vs. dissimilarity in traits and resource needs (often increased via relatedness).
• Renewable vs. non-renewable resources

Question 20

complexity in competition - Given a set of conditions, how intense will competition be?

Answer 20

The stronger the competition in social species, the stronger the selection for social combat traits.

Question 21

Individual combat traits

Answer 21

• Morphological combat traits.
• Chemical combat traits.
• Behavioral combat strategies.

Question 22

what are morphological combat traits

Answer 22

• Evolution of key morphological combat traits
• evolution of individual fighting prowess.

Question 23

morphological combat traits - categories of traits

Answer 23

• Size/strength.
• Weapons.
• Armor.
• Speed.

Question 24

morphological combat traits - size/strength

Answer 24

• Individual strength dictates size of prey that can be effectively captured.
• Individual size also dictates outcome of competitive interactions over shared resources.

Question 25

morphological combat traits: weapons - the Jacana bird example

Answer 25

• Females are larger than males and have wings spurs (looks like thorns on their wings)
• They establish large breeding groups with many males (female led harem).
• They defend a territory of water lilies (limited resource) against other groups looking to expand.

Question 26

morphological combat traits - armor examples

Answer 26

• exoskeletal armor in turtle ants
• thickened defensive skin in elephant seals

Question 27

morphological combat traits: speed - 2 adaptations

Answer 27

1. Adaptations for speed in predator-prey interactions
2. Adaptations for speed in competitive interactions — especially in exploitation competition

Question 28

chemical combat traits

Answer 28

1. ancestral chemical combat traits
2. derived chemical traits

Question 29

chemical combat traits - ancestral

Answer 29

stinger with venom

Question 30

chemical combat traits - derived

Answer 30

acid squirting nozzle

Question 31

Behavioral combat strategies

Answer 31

Behavior can provide unique defense strategies, and modify and improve the effectiveness of morphological and chemical defenses.

Question 32

Common behavioral strategies for avoiding combat

Answer 32

• Bursts of speed.
• Foraging route complexity
• Stealth.
• Direction changes.
• Playing dead

Question 33

behavioral strategies - confusion and avoidance

Answer 33

example: Springbok jumping

Question 34

define interspecific competition

Answer 34

Competition among individuals of different species.