behavior final Flashcards
(127 cards)
1
Q
What would be included in an ethogram
A
- number of times an animal chased a female
- number of aggressive displays
- length of time spent foraging
- rate of calling behavior
2
Q
what approach would provide the strongest test of the hypothesis that density of individuals affects aggression
A
a controlled experiment that varies density and records aggression
3
Q
why should researchers avoid engaging in anthropomorphic thinking
A
- it may lead to inferences not based on observation
- it rarely produces testable preditctions
4
Q
charles turner’s systematic exploration of differences in cognitive abilities between invertebrates species using elaborate experimental apparatuses is an example of
A
comparative psychology
5
Q
T/F: a trait is heritable if the average value changes in response to direct selection
A
T
6
Q
T/F: traits determined mostly by environmental factors have a heritability score of about 0
A
T
7
Q
T/F: heritability can be estimated by measuring parent offspring regression
A
T
8
Q
T/F: heritability explains how much of the variation in a population is due to variation in genetics
A
T
9
Q
T/F: heritability values are reported btw 0% and 100%
A
F
10
Q
operant conditioning
A
process by which an animal learns to association a behavior with a particular positive or negative consequence
11
Q
the more fitness a trait results in, the more…
A
it will increase in the population
12
Q
The relative frequency of these strategies (scroungers vs producers) differs between flocks, and you observe that the scroungers have high
fitness when they are rare in a flock and low fitness when they are common
in a flock; what phenomenon is this
A
negative frequency dependent selection
13
Q
kin selection
A
- can explain cooperation among relatives
- allows individuals to gain indirect fitness by helping relatives
14
Q
sexual dimorphisms can be observed in birds when
A
there is a positive correlation between male tail length and number of active nests
15
Q
direct vs disruptive vs stabilizing selection on a graph
A
- straight sloped
- M shape
- n shape
16
Q
FAP
A
- fixed action pattern
- behavior that is invariant, unlearned, and once initiated always completed
- evidence for a genetic explanation of behavior
17
Q
proximate explanations for mouse burrowing behaviors
A
- males dig more than females because of testosterone
- mice learn how to dig more efficiently as they age
18
Q
behavior
A
- internally coordinated
- externally visible
- pattern of activity
- responds to changing external and internal conditions
19
Q
null hypothesis
A
there is no significant difference between treatment groups
20
Q
how is ethology different from comparative psychology
A
- ethology studies wild animals
- ethology observes behavior in natural settings
21
Q
cost benefit analysis graph
A
largest benefit with minimal cost will evolve
22
Q
reasons why individuals in a population might differ in their behavior
A
- genetics
- environments
- learning
- variation unrelated to fitness
- disruptive selection
- negative frequency dependant selection
23
Q
tinbergen’s questions: proximate
A
- what mechanism causes the behavior
- how does behavior develop over the lifespan
24
Q
tinbergen’s questions: ultimate
A
- what is the function of the behavior
- how did the behavior evolve
25
compare and contrast ancestral and derived traits
Ancestral traits are found in a common ancestor of two or more species, while a derived trait is not found in the ancestor of the clade. These traits both help describe evolutionary explanations of a behavior, using phylogenetic tree/analysis.
26
compare and contrast direct and indirect fitness
Direct fitness are the genes contributed to the next generation due to
an individual’s own reproduction, whereas indirect fitness is genes contributed to next generation
by helping relatives have offspring. The total of the two is total inclusive fitness.
27
compare and contrast primary and secondary scientific literature
Primary papers are original reports of scientific studies, usually peer reviewed and containing methodology. Secondary papers summarize primary literature. Both are ways to communicate research.
28
compare and contrast hypothesis and theory
An hypothesis is an untested explanation for a limited set of natural
phenomena. Theories are well-supported explanations for a wide variety of related natural
phenomena. Both are testable explanations of how the natural world works.
29
3 Rs
- replace: not using animals
- reduce: limit number
- refine: improve procedures
30
practical reasons why scientists study animal behavior
- hunting
- economic reasons
- companion animals
- recovery of endangered species
- insight into human behavioral issues
31
knock out technique
compares wild type individuals to those with a disabled genome
32
close ended learners vs open ended learners
fixed sensitive period vs not fixed
33
open field tests are designed to examine an individuals response to...
stress
34
chemoreception mechanism
when a chemical molecule binds to a receptor on a sensory neuron
35
photoreception mechanism
photoreceptors contain photosensitive opsin proteins that change shape when struck by light, which generates action potentials
36
mechanoreception mechanism
detection of mechanical waves or vibrations that travel through the air, water, or other substances
37
the earth's magnetic field
- has polarity flowing from south to north
- strength varies with latitude
- angle of inclination varies with latitude
38
evidence of behavioral personalities
relative to others, individuals that have the highest exploratory scores in the absence of a predator also have the highest exploratory scores in the presence of a predator
39
during the waggle dance, the duration of the waggle provides info about the...
distance to the food source
40
the audience effect
modifications in signalling behavior when a eavesdropper/bystander is present
41
referential signaling
an alarm call that communicates info about the species of predator
42
an analysis of gene expression during courtship in fruit flies revealed that
- differences in social environment result in production of different combinations of proteins
- sixteen unique genes are associated with male courtship of females
43
signal or cue: Scents deposited by wolves, used to mark the boundaries of territories between
adjacent packs
signal
44
signal or cue: Sounds produced by male frogs, used by bats to locate potential prey.
cue
45
signal or cue: vibrations produced by walking ants, used by antlion larvae to determine when to throw sand
cue
46
signal or cue: Elevated levels of carbon dioxide, used by mosquitos to identify a host for blood meal.
cue
47
signal or cue: Electrical fields generated by muscular activity in fish, used by sharks to locate prey
cue
48
UV can or cannot be detected by photoreceptors
can
49
aposemitism
warning of noxiousness by standing out
50
batesian mimicry
mimicry of noxious animal
51
transduction
conversion of environmental stimuli into neural info
52
how do ultrasounds and infrasounds differ
- Infrasounds travel longer distances through the environment than ultrasounds.
- Ultrasounds echo off small environmental objects, but infrasounds do not
53
extended phenotype
signal that is a modification of the environment
54
communication
Specialized signal from one individual which influences the behavior of another individual
55
signal transduction
Conversion of environmental stimuli into neural information
56
conditions favoring the evolution of signals as honest/accurate
indicators of conditions
- The fitness interests of signaler and receiver are similar
- The signal cannot be faked
- Signals are costly to produce or maintain
57
chemical signalling advantage
can persist over a long duration
58
chemical signalling disadvantage
- Environmental Degradation
- Cannot be modified quickly
59
visual signalling advantage
rapid modification
60
visual signalling disadvantage
Depends on illumination; not useful
in the dark
61
auditory signalling advantage
- Travels around objects.
- Rapid modification
62
compare and contrast minor and major genes
Single gene that has a large phenotypic effect vs a single gene with a small phenotypic effect
62
auditory signalling disadvantage
attenuates with distance
63
compare and contrast wild type and mutant
Versions of one gene: natural version found in nature versus a non-functioning (mutated) version
64
compare and contrast genome and gene
Both describe DNA, the genome is all of the genetic information possessed by an animal versus individual genes which are short segments that contain information to create a single protein
65
learning
- relatively permanent changes in behavior as a result of an experience
- can result in changes in behavior that can increase fitness
66
habituation
simplest form of learning; reduction and then lack of response to stimulus over time
67
dear enemy hypothesis
territorial rivals become less aggressive when borders are established
68
imprinting
rapid learning that occurs in young animals during a short sensitive period and has long lasting effects
69
cognitive buffer hypothesis
- positive correlation between brain size and survival rates
- greater learning abilities in species with larger brains
70
teaching
- teacher modifies their behavior only in the presence of a pupil
- behavior is costly to teacher
- pupil acquires knowledge more rapidly due to the behavior of the teacher
71
behavioral traditions
differences between populations transmitted across generations through social learning
72
cognition
acquisition, storage, retrieval and use of info
73
antipredator strategies
- crypsis
- decreased movement
- startle display
- evasive or aggressive action
74
cognition examples
- tool use
- problem solving
- insight learning
- numerical abilities
- spatial learning/memory
- self recognition
75
alarm signal hypothesis
advertisement behavior to warn conspecifics
76
pursuit deterrence hypothesis
advertisement behavior to acknowledge predator
77
selfish herd hypothesis
individuals can decrease risk of predation by moving to the center of the group
78
group size effect
vigilance behavior decreases as group size increases
79
dispersal
- short distance
- one way
- decrease inbreeding and competition
80
win-stay, loose-shift describes
breeding dispersal
81
T/F: migratory behavior has a heritability value of 0
F
82
T/F: migratory behavior has an overall net cost relative to individuals that are sedentary
F
83
T/F: migratory behavior can be measured by the onset of Zugenruhe
T
84
T/F: migratory behavior evolved so that animals can avoid inbreeding depression
F
85
vigilance behavior...
- often incurs a tradeoff with other behaviors
- on a per capita basis, exhibits a negative relationship with group size
86
bicoordinate navigation requires ar least
2 environmental gradients
87
individuals with the highest RHP will usually be
- the biggest
- the fattest
88
winner challenge effect
winners tend to win subsequent fights because of elevated testosterone levels
89
in aggressive interactions with mutual assessment, the duration of the contest is predicted to be longest when...
- individuals have equal RHP
- the resource is of relatively high value
90
optimal forage patch use model
KNOW GRAPH FROM EXAM 3
91
compare and contrast dispersal and migration
Both describe an animal’s movement through habitat. Dispersal is one-way, generally short, movement from one location to another. Migration is longer, round-trip, movement (not always
annual)
92
compare and contrast orientation and navigation
Cognitive abilities necessary for migration. Orientation is the determination and maintenance of correct direction whereas navigation is determination of location and movement toward specific destination (ie, mental map)
93
compare and contrast producer and scrounger
Two phenotypes in social foraging species. Producers are individuals who work to search for food, while scroungers are individuals taking food from efforts of producer
94
compare and contrast home range and territory
Both describe regular habitat use. Home range is an area of repeated use that is not defended. Territory is an area defended for exclusive access to resources.
95
secondary sex characteristics
morphological differences between sexes that are not directly involved in reproduction
96
sexual selection
a form of natural selection that acts on heritable traits that affect repro via mate competition and mate choice
97
mate competition
selection in which one sex competes with other members of the same sex for access to the other sex for reproduction; intra-sexual selection
98
mate choice
selection by one sex for member of the other sex for repro; inter-sexual selection
99
batemans hypothesis
female repro success is most strongly limited by the number and success of eggs that she can produce but male repo success is limited by number of mates
100
parental investment
any investment by the parent in an individual offspring that increases the fitness at the parents ability to invest in the future of the offspring
101
the parent investing more will be
choosier of mates
102
sex role reversed species
- females compete for males that invest heavily in parental care
- females have enhanced secondary sex characteristics
103
direct material benefits
material resources obtained by a female from a mating partner
104
nuptial gift
physical resource that a male provides to a female to increase mating sucess
105
indirect genetic benefits
genetic benefits that females can obtain for their offspring by mating with males with increases genetic quality
106
runaway process
an evolutionary process in which a male trait co-evolves with a female preference for the trait and it be highly exaggerated
107
handicap principle
well developed secondary sexual characteristics are costly to survival but are relative signs of fitness
108
post mating selection
a female can mate with more than one male and sperm compete and female can influence which sperm fertilize
109
post mating selection mechanisms
- sperm competition
- cryptic female choice
110
extra pair young
offspring of a pair bonded female produced outside the pair bonded by a third party male
111
conditional strategy
use of particular mating behavior based on individuals condition;
- primary tactic has high fitness but is costly
- poor condition males adopt alternative strategies
- all males have potential to use other strategies
112
evolutionary stable strategy
if adopted by a population, it cannot be trumped by another strategy because it is the highest fitness; negative frequency dependant selection
113
male aggregation into leks
- hotspot
- hotshot
114
benefit of male copying
- high likelihood of high quality mate
- only occurs when discrimination is difficult
115
mating system
a description of the social associations and number of sexual partners during one breeding season
116
sexual conflict
differential selection on males and females to maximize fitness
117
polygyny and polyandry evolve when...
when one sex can defend multiple mates or the resources they seek
118
female defense polygyny
males monopolize aggregation of females directly
119
resource defence polygyny
males defend territory rich in resources
120
selection favors polygyny when...
biparental care is not requiredp
121
life history traits
growth, reproduction, survivorship traits that results from natural selection
122
parent offspring conflict theory
optimal level of parental investment is always higher than for offspring
123
brood reduction
differential offspring mortality within a single clutch; can be adaptive for a parent to increase survivorship and future repro
124
brood parasitism evolution theories
- evolutionary lag hypothesis
- bill hypothesis
125
evolutionary lag hypothesis
species with shorter history of coexistence with parasites will be acceptors but those with high history reject
126
bill hypthesis
only species with big bills can lift eggs out to reject them
