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Animal Behavior > Sociobiology > Flashcards

Sociobiology Flashcards

1
Q

3 components of sociobiology

A

Biology
Ethology
Ecology

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2
Q

2 books of sociobiology

A

Wilson– Sociobiology: the new synthesis (1975)

Dawkins– The selfish gene (1976)

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3
Q

What is sociobiology concerned with

A

Contribution of behavioral traits to fitness

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4
Q

6 advantages of sociality

A 
Mating and care of young
Group defence against predation
Foraging and cooperative hunting
Manipulation of environment 
Division of labor 
Learning through cultural transmission
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5
Q

Why does altruism challenge sociobiology

A

Putting oneself at risk to help another reduces fitness. Evolution should select for selfishness over altruism

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6
Q

VC Wynne/Edwards

A

Dispersion and its relation to social behavior. Animals should avoid overexploitation of habitat by regulating birth rate

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7
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

Amount of animals a habitat can support

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8
Q

4 pieces of evidence for VC Wynne/Edwards

A

Animals capable of having way more babies than they do
Social subordinates dont reproduce in favor of dominant
Breeding stops after reasonable age
Parents sometimes consumer their own offspring

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9
Q

Group Selection Theory

A

Overpopulation avoided by altruistic restraint on reproduction for group benefit

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10
Q

Epideitic displays

A

Communal displays, roosting aggregations, group vocalisations. Provide population density info that regulates reproductive efforts via hormones

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11
Q

Problem with group selection theory

A

How does a gene that educes its own representation in the next generation survive in a gene pool

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12
Q

Empirical finding to support group selection theory

A

Reproduction adjusted t produce max number of surviving offspring. Appears sub-maximal but is actually optimal. English swift have more surviving fledglings when only 2/clutch are born

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13
Q

3 other explanations of altruism

A

Triver reciprocity theory
Alexander parental manipulation
Nowak multilevel selection

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14
Q

Kin Selection theory

A

Animals only care for others offspring if they are genetically related. Altruism according to genetic relatedness

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15
Q

Darwinian Fitness

A

Personal fitness–> how many offspring you produce

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16
Q

Inclusive Fitness

A

Net gene representation in succeeding generations. Indirect fitness

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17
Q

Altruism will occur if (equation thing)

A

K= ratio of recipient benefit to altruistic cost
R= coefficient of relatedness
K> 1/r

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18
Q

Hamiltons rule

A

r> c/b
OR
rb> c

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19
Q

Bird helping equation

A

H= # of helped siblings brought to maturity beyond parents capacity
S= # of siblings raised without help
For selection to favor helping H> S

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20
Q

Eusocial insects

A

Sterile females sacrifice reproduction to work for the reproductive success of their mother the queen

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21
Q

Trivers/Hare ant study

A

Females are 75% related (one haploid father for all) so fitness is better served by helping to rear more sisters then having 50% related children of their own

22
Q

Dawkins Battle of the Sexes

A

Living things are all descendants of successful players of the evolutionary game

23
Q

4 Barash reproductive decisions

A

How
When
With whom
What social system

24
Q

4 problems with sexual reproduction

A

Time and energy cost
Danger of predation
Desertion/Cuckoldry
Genetic cost– only 50% related

25
Q

Benefit of sexual reproduction

A

Production of genetically diverse offspring

26
Q

Dewsbury reproductive isolating mechanisms

A

Prevent mistakes in mate selection

1) Pre- mating– courtship
2) Mating related– genitalia
3) post-mating– hormonal events in females for implantation

27
Q

Williams Courtship theory

A

Requires ability to
Advertise– transmit unambiguous signals
Select– Receive and act on signals

28
Q

Anisogamy

A

Differential gamete production. Females make small number of large gametes. Males make a large number of small gametes.

29
Q

Dawkins investment differential

A

Females invest more into each ovum and therefore have more to lose during mate selection than males

30
Q

Geddes and Thomas evolution of sex

A

Errors in mate selection have more serious consequences for females so they are the selectors

31
Q

Watt’s 4 functions of courtship

A

Attraction
Overcoming fear of close contact
Maintenance of bond
Evaluation of potential mates

32
Q

2 ways to avoid Cuckoldry

A

Refusal to mate with females suspected of already mating

Protect inseminated female

33
Q

2 types of Darwin sexual selection causing sexual dimorphism

A

Intersexual

Intrasexual

34
Q

Intrasexual selection

A

Competition between males increases weaponry and aggression

35
Q

Intersexual selection

A

Courtship favors secondary sex characteristics. Appearance and behvaior

36
Q

Trivers parental investment

A

Every time a female mates she limits her chance of doing it again. Max net reproductive success for female is achieved with fewer offspring and higher parental investment than males

37
Q

3 mating systems

A

Monogamy
Polygamy
Promiscuity

38
Q

Polygyny

A

Many females to one male

39
Q

Polyandry

A

Many males to one female

40
Q

Lek Species

A

Males congregate in a mating area. Female enters to mate and then leaves– promiscuity

41
Q

Direct and indirect benefit to female through mating

A 
Direct= genetic contribution
Indirect= access to resources through partner and dominant future offspring
42
Q

Tinbergen definition of aggression

A

Behavior that tends to remove an opponent or make it change its behavior to no longer interfere with attacker

43
Q

Archers 3 categories of aggression

A

Competitive
Protective
Paternal

44
Q

2 forms of competition

A

Scramble: Resources accessible to all competitors
Contest: Active conflict

45
Q

Red deer competition

A

Roaring contest, Parallel walk and if nobody withdraws they fight. You are more badass if you dominate at a lower level without having to fight

46
Q

When to fight

A

Gain fitness and access to resources

Food, sleeping area, territory, nest sites

47
Q

When not to fight

A

When resources are abundant and population density is low

48
Q

Social stability and aggression

A

Social stability associated with low aggression–> established hierarchies

49
Q

Why is there low fatality rates in intra-species competiton

A

Elaborate behaviors allow conflict resolution without violence
- threat displays, trials of strength and signals of submission

50
Q

Ritualized Attack

A

Damage to non-vulnerable body parts

Animal Behavior (3 decks)

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