Ultimate Proximate-Birds Flashcards
2 types of proximate cause
mechanism(structure of the trait) and development(ontogeny, how th trait develops in an individual)
Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)
Innate, stereotypical behaviors triggered by a specific stimulus. Once initiated, they are inflexible and instinctive
2 types of Ultimate cuases
Evolutionary (phylogeny/evolutionary history of a trait) Function (adaptive significance, how the trait influences fitness)
Goose will always roll the egg back into the nest even a fake egg. What is this?
A fixed action pattern
Stimulus-Response Processes
Can be innate or learned, involving responses to stimuli that may be modified by experience, sensory processing, and decision-making. Knee-Jerk Reflex (Innate): Automatic leg movement after a patellar
tap. Pavlov’s Dog (Learned): Dog salivates to a bell after conditioning.
What is the adaptive value?
Function (ultimate)
How does the body produce a behavior?
Mechanism (proximate)
How does animal’s experience influence behavior?
Development: (ontogeny)(proximate)
What is the traits evolutionary history? (basal /derived)
Evolution (ultimate)
Types of Songs in birds
Innate songs or calls no flexibility
Age-dependent learners: Song learning for fixed period of time develop a repertoire
Age-independent learners: Learning thought out life complicated repertoire
Eastern Pheobe still sings their song even when held in captivity, what type of singer are they?
vocal non-learners
White Crowned Sparrows do not learn to sing without a tutor.
Age-dependent learners
Cockatoos learn whatever song they are exposed to.
open-ended learners (age-independent)
list 3 proximate hypothesis there are for dialects among crowned sparrows. Then name the 2 that were excepted through experiment.
Genetic differences hypothesis (mechanism)
Found little genetic difference between the birds (Not the Case)
Acoustic stimulus hypothesis (ontogeny)
Differences in birds’ acoustic environment. (supported)
Social Interaction hypothesis (ontogeny)
Difference caused by social interaction between young birds and their tutor (strongest case)
Males vs. Females singing
70% of females sing, 50% sing as much as males. In those where males sing more mechanisms like HVC, RA (brain), or syrinx(throat) are reduced in females. Note: more growth when exposed to high-quality songs.
Is evolution convergent or divergent?
evolved twice? Hummingbirds and parrots/songbirds are separated on phylogeny. But zenk pathways are very similar in all 3 species.
Evidence for ancestral
similar zenk pathways, the strongest evidence comes from female birds 92% probability when mapped.
Give 3 possible adaptive values of singing
-Environmental adaptation:
vocal learning allows a bird to adjust vocal signals for different habitats
–Recognition hypothesis:
promotes identification of neighbors, social cohesion
–Male–Male Competition Hypothesis:
song learning helps males hold territories
–Sexual Selections Hypothesis:
complex vocal repertoire provides honest signals about male fitness, female preference
–Geographic matching:
provides information of where birds come and allows preferential
mating (choosing individuals that are more similar or dissimilar)
Runaway Sexual Selection example
European sirens sing at the edge of physical capability. Female Lyre birds are attracted to the best mimics
