Introduction

Question 1

Charles Darwin’s - input into ecology

Answer 1

• evolution by natural selection
• sexual selection and mate choice
• expression of emotions in humans and animals

Question 2

Meaning to ethology

Answer 2

Scientific approach to animal behaviour
- describe behaviour
- modelling behaviour
- tested hypothesis

Question 3

What did Konrad Lorenz research in ecology

Answer 3

Imprinting
Instinct
Comparative method

Question 4

Imprinting - definition

Answer 4

• A types of learning
• it takes place during early stages of life
• occurs during a short time window
• has a long lasting influence
• occurs in precocial animals
• eg ungulates , ducks and geese

Question 5

Instinct - definition

Answer 5

• much behaviour is made up of a number of instincts - fixed action patterns
  -contained learning elements as well- imprinting
• motivated by action specific energy - drive (hasn’t help up)
• and released by stimuli - sign stimili

Question 6

Instinct: example / case study

Answer 6

Egg rolling in graylag goose:
Goose shows stereotypical response to egg (or rock!) outside nest- rolls it back in particular way every time

Question 7

What did Karl con Frisch discover

Answer 7

Colour vision in fish
Pheromone in fish skin
Bee language system

Question 8

Tinbergen - whats his point

Answer 8

Sign stimuli
The adaptive value of behaviour
The 4 questions

Question 9

What is sign stimuli

Answer 9

Red belly in male sticklebacks
- male three spines stickleback

Tinbergen used models to test if shape, size or colour are the key stimulus causing males to act aggressively

Answer: red ventral colouration
Scientists studying sticklebacks in the lab don’t wear read for this reason

Question 10

Adaptive value of behaviour- detailed
- gull question
- who investigated
- hypothesis
- results

Answer 10

Egg shell removal in black headed gull:

Why do gulls remove egg shells after the chicks hatch?

White inner shell is conspicuous to predators.
But other explanations = hygiene , sharp edges etc

Tinbergen tested his hypothesis in several ways. In an area patrolled by predators, he distributed a mix of gull eggs, some unmodified and some painted white.

Results:

The results were unambiguous: although both kinds of eggs were found and eaten, the white ones were discovered more frequently. Then he and his coworkers put out two sets of unmodified gull eggs, some alone and some accompanied by empty eggshells placed about four inches away.

The eggs were covered with a few grass straws to help camouflage them, and those with the shells nearby were covered a little better than the lone eggs.

Again, the results were clear: even though they were better camouflaged, eggs near shells were three times more likely than lone eggs to be found and eaten by gulls and crows.

Question 11

Charles Henry Turner:

Answer 11

Charles Henry turner: 1867- 1923

• social insect - Hymenopteran - behaviour
• Pattern and colour recognition - needs
• Experience cna alter behaviour - associative learning
• Bees create memory pictures
• Difficulty securing academic appointment
• Not mentioned in many academic studies
• Training bees to fly to target known as con Frisch technique also though used previously
• Continued publishing as high school teacher

Question 12

Margaret morse Nice- wants her deal

Answer 12

Margaret morse nice: 1883-1974:
• early contributions from female ethnologists less known/ celebrated

• key innovation: longitudinal study of single population
• Methodes in widespread use today
• Research performed from home while raising kids
• 250 articles , 7 books
• Brewster medal : American ornithology award

Question 13

How did the researchers have bias?

Answer 13

• scientists have biases based on background / experience
• What we choose to study
• > NIH : paucity of studies on normal physiology / medicine of women
• > Non human primates: early focus on male aggression/ hierarchy
How we interpret our findings
• > female choice
What language we use to describe what we see
• > adultery vs extra pair copulation