WEEK 4: FEEDING AND FORAGING BEHAVIOURS

Question 1

what’s the difference between generalists and specialists?

Answer 1

wide diet

specific food (less competition)

Question 2

please give an example of how volume of food differs between animals

Answer 2

giraffes- selector of specific parts of a food with highly nutritious content

elephant- bulk feeder, quantity > quality

Question 3

what is ectothermic?

Answer 3

regulation depend on environment

Question 4

what is endothermic?

Answer 4

have precise control over internal physiology.

Question 5

what is the optimal foraging theory?

give an example

Answer 5

larger items have more energy but also cost more time and energy?

should cheetah eat hare or search for gazelle? eat hare if:

profitability [hare] > (profitability[gazelle] - search energy[gazelle])

Question 6

what is the difference between primary and secondary defences?

Answer 6

primary reduces chances of attack, secondary reduced chance of a successful attack.

Question 7

gives three examples of primary defences

Answer 7

hide
mimicry (pretend to be dangerous)
reduce odds of being selected (i.e.) living in a group

Question 8

give three examples of secondary defences

Answer 8

distraction- ??
alarm calls- ??
mobbing- all ganging up and attacking predator

Question 9

what are some of the benefits of living in a group?

Answer 9

vigilance
dilution of threat from predators
selfish herding (i.e.) grouping together around a food resource