L18 - Social Relationships Flashcards
What relationship does group size have with predation risk?
Predation risk decreases as group size increases
What relationship does group size have with competition?
Competition increases as group size increases
What group size is optimal? And why?
Intermediate in size because predation risk decreases and competition increases with group size. Combined effect means that intermediate groups have highest fitness.
When do dominance hierarchies occur?
When there is competition over resources and individuals can monopolise resources
What is scramble competition?
Scramble competition refers to a situation in which a resource is accessible to all competitors
In terms of blood pressure and wound/ injury healing, what was the difference between dominant males and subordinate males?
Blood pressure - dominant males had a higher peak and bigger rise in blood pressure
Wound healing - dominant males healed quicker from wounds/ injuries
What are glucocorticoids?
Stress hormones
What are chronically elevated glucocorticoids associated with?
Suppressed immune system and reproduction
What is the relationship between fecal glucocorticoids levels and dominance rank?
As dominance rank increases (i.e going from rank 1 to 10) the glucocorticoid levels increases too
What is the relationship between fecal testosterone levels and dominance rank?
As dominance rank decreases (i.e going from rank 10 to 1) the testosterone levels increases too
What are two effects of social stress?
Adrenaline and corticosterone response
What does a high adrenaline and corticosterone response lead to?
- Decreased immune function and reproduction.
- High blood pressure and heart rate
What are 2 coping mechanisms to reduce aggression in social groups?
Intervention
Reconciliation
What two aspects can friendship effect?
Life span and reproductive success
What is the social brain hypothesis?
That primates brains are so big compared to their body size to deal with the factors that being in a social group brings
