W0: Animal Behavior

Question 1

Ethology

Answer 1

The naturalistic study of animal behavior.

Question 2

Behavioral Ecology

Answer 2

An evolutionary and ecological approach to studying behavior. As currently practiced, it is multi-disciplinary and integrative.

Question 3

Adaption:

Answer 3

– A characteristic that confers higher fitness on
individuals than any other existing alternative
exhibited by other individuals within the population
– A trait that has spread, or will spread, or is being
maintained in a population as the result of selection
• Adaptations are habitat-specific

Question 4

Fitness

Answer 4

A measure of the genes contributed to the
next generation by an individual
—often quantified as the number of offspring an individual has.
– Fitness does NOT mean “being in best
shape” or “runs the fastest”
– Fitness is measured in terms of
reproductive success

Question 5

Natural Selection

Answer 5

he process that produces
evolutionary change when individuals differ in
heritable traits that are correlated with differences in
their individual reproductive success

Question 6

Heritable

Answer 6

Traits that can be transmitted from one

generation to another via a genetic pathway

Question 7

Evolution by natural selection

will occur if:

Answer 7

• There is variation between individuals
• In heritable traits
• That affect survival and reproduction
• Note: evolution = change over time

Question 8

How do we detect adaptation

in nature?

Answer 8

• Compare the fitness of naturally-occurring
variants
• Remove the trait and see what happens
• Look for convergences–the same or similar
forms occurring in similar environments
among un-related species
• Look for habitat-specific variants in related
species

Question 9

Exaptations

Answer 9

traits that evolved initially for
one purpose that later became co-opted for
another

Question 10

Why may we not see adaptions?

Answer 10

• Evolutionary time lag
– Humans and motorcycles, fatty foods, etc.
• Lack of heritable variation
– Pigs will never fly
• Developmental constraints
– You have to crawl before you walk
• Gene flow between populations under
different selection regimes
• Fluctuating selection
• Correlated traits
– Selection can not eliminate a trait that has another function

Question 11

Does natural
selection does
not act for the
good of the
species?

Answer 11

NO

Question 12

What are Proximate Questions?

Answer 12

"How questions"
• Genetic-developmental mechanisms
– Behavioral genetics
– Behavioral development/ontogeny
• Sensory-motor mechanisms
– How does the nervous system detect and
affect behavior?
– How do hormones modulate behavior?

Question 13

What are Ultimate Question?

Answer 13

"What and Why questions"
• Historical/Evolutionary history of a
trait
– What is the evolutionary history of a
trait?
– What relatives share a trait?
• Adaptive utility (function) of a trait
– What is the current utility of a trait?
– Why and how does the trait affect
fitness?

Question 14

What are the 4 categories of questions?

Answer 14

Proximate Ultimate
• Sensory-motor
• Genetic/developmental

Ultimate
• Historical/evolutionary
• Current adaptive utility

Question 15

How does natural selection work within a group?

Answer 15

Within a group, selection acts against cooperators or altruists because they would have lower fitness.
Selfish individuals always do better because they don’t bear the cost of not reproducing, yet they still benefit from those who do.

Question 16

How does natural selection work between groups?

Answer 16

Between groups, cooperation could be favored if groups with cooperators produce more offspring than those without cooperators and thus are able to colonize more areas faster. If this is important, then we will see groups comprised of cooperators.

Question 17

What level of selection does the trait “leg length” work in?

Answer 17

“Leg length” might help an individual escape
predators and therefore acts at the level of
the individual.

Question 18

What level of selection does the trait “tolerance of others” work in?

Answer 18

“Tolerance of others” might be a trait that is
only expressed when an individual is in a
group and therefore acts at the level of the
group.