Behavioral Ecology Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Behavioral Ecology Deck (18)
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1
Q

behavior

A

any action by an org

  • often in response to a stimulus
  • can evolve by natural selection
2
Q

behavioral ecology

A

study how orgs respond to a particular abiotic & biotic stimuli from environment

3
Q

proximate causation

A

the immediate, mechanistic cause of phenomenon

  • aka approximate explanation
  • mechanistic
  • how actions occur: genetic, neurological, hormonal & skeletal-muscular mechanisms

(ie) animal courtship = neural & hormonal signal

4
Q

ultimate causation

A

the reason a trait/phenomenon is thought to have evolved

  • the adaptive advantage of that trait
  • aka ultimate explanation
  • evolutionary
  • why actions occur: evolutionary consequences & history

(ie) particular behavior = adaptive & increases fitness

5
Q

territories

A

area that is actively defended by an animal from others of its species
- provides exclusive or semi-exclusive use of its resources by owner

6
Q

fixed action patterns (FAP)

A

highly stereotyped behavior pattern that occurs in a certain invariant way in certain species
- form of innate behavior

7
Q

innate behavior

A

behavior inherited genetically that is typical of species

  • does not have to be learned
  • more fixed & stereotypical

(ie) fixed action patterns
(ie) sneezing & yawning
(ie) imprinting

8
Q

learning

A

an enduring change in an individual’s behavior

  • results from specific experience(s)
  • more flexible & conditional

(ie) B.F. Skinner rats learning rewards & punishments for lifting lever
(ie) speech

9
Q

cost-benefit analysis

A

decisions or analyses that weigh the fitness costs & benefits of a particular action

10
Q

foraging

A

searching for food

(ie) rovers v. sitters in fruit fly larvae eating behavior

11
Q

optimal foraging

A

maximizing feeding efficiency
- related to fitness: more time, E & availability for reproduction

(ie) gerbils w/ owl fly-over experiment

12
Q

migration

A

seasonal movement of large numbers of orgs from one population
- could use: piloting, compass orientation or true navigation

13
Q

piloting

A

use familiar landmarks to find their way

  • type of navigation
  • memorize route, later able to pilot route

(ie) migratory birds
(ie) how we explain finding a place to another person

14
Q

compass orientation

A

oriented w/ specific direction

  • type of navigation
  • compass = Sun, stars & earth magnetic field (depend on weather & otro)
  • use circadian clock + compass

(ie) European robins - migratory birds

15
Q

true navigation

A

simply know where “home” is

  • type of navigation
  • (aka) map orientation
  • use magnetic field + home

(ie) sea turtles

16
Q

circadian clock

A

internal mech. found in most orgs

- regulates many body processes (sleep/wake cycles, hormonal patterns)

17
Q

migration costs

A

(1) lots of traveling

(2) complete migration could take multiple generations - monarch butterfly

18
Q

migration benefits

A

(1) follow food source - fish move throughout seasons
(2) increase reproductive success - new areas
(3) safer for young - salmon freshwater
(4) more food for adults - salmon ocean