Lecture 13 - Play

Question 1

define play

Answer 1

post natal motor activity, appears purposeless

- maybe not purposeless = fail to identify benefits, may not occur until later, multiple + confounding

Question 2

costs

Answer 2

energy, reduced vigilance, predation, injury

85% seal pups predated while playing

Question 3

taxonomic occurrence

Answer 3

mammals = carnivores, unglulates, rodents
meerkats long term study = 6% waking day playing
birds = crows

Question 4

what is an ethogram

Answer 4

inventory of animals’ actions

Question 5

object play

Answer 5

inanimate object, juveniles

hunting practice

Question 6

locomotor play

Answer 6

lay of land info, exercise, develop motor skills

cerebellar synaptogenesis in mice at most frequent play

Question 7

social play

Answer 7

physical skills, facilitates long term relationships

- play fighting smiling gorillas = mouth open, visible teeth - reassure still play

Question 8

why play fair

Answer 8

low gain from cheating

costs long lasting - group exclusion

Question 9

Belding’s ground squirrels

Answer 9

more coordinated, raise more offspring

Question 10

brown bears

Answer 10

more likely to survive until independence

Question 11

General theory - Marek Spinka

Answer 11

deal better with unexpected later life events

• rats deprived, more negatively respond to stress
• dominance/subordinate roles often change in play