Lessons 01-05

Question 1

What are Tinbergen’s Four Questions?

(CDEF)

Answer 1

1. Function
2. Causation
3. Development
4. Evolution

Question 2

Explain what is meant by ‘Function’ in Tinbergen’s Four Questions.

Answer 2

Why is the animal performing the behaviour?

Question 3

Explain what is meant by ‘Causation’ in Tinbergen’s Four Questions.

Answer 3

What causes the behaviour to be performed?

Question 4

Explain what is meant by ‘Development’ in Tinbergen’s Four Questions.

Answer 4

How has the behaviour developed during the lifetime of the individual?

Question 5

Explain what is meant by ‘Evolution’ in Tinbergen’s Four Questions.

Answer 5

How did the behaviour evolve in the species?

Question 6

Innate

Answer 6

A quality which you are born with, or which is present naturally.

Question 7

Learned

Answer 7

Behaviours acquired through experience and learning.

Question 8

What do learned behaviours occur as a result of?

(3)

Answer 8

• Observations or social learning
• Trial and error - experience
• Teaching

Question 9

Social Behaviour

Answer 9

Two or more members of a species interact with each other.

Question 10

Types of social structures

(4)

Answer 10

• Solitary
• Monogamous Pair
• Eusocail Group
• Social Group

Question 11

Solitary

Answer 11

All key behaviours are carried out alone.

Question 12

Monogamous Pair

Answer 12

• Mate exclusively – sometimes for life.
• Share upbringing of the offspring.

Question 13

Eusocial Group

Answer 13

Majority of the individuals support one or two reproductive individuals.

Question 14

Social Group

Answer 14

Small to large cooperative groups.

Question 15

Affiliative Behaviour

Answer 15

Affiliative behaviour is a type of social interaction between animals that is friendly, and strengthens social bonds.
- Such as grooming or group sleeping.

Question 16

Cooperative Behaviour

Answer 16

Cooperative behaviour is a social behaviour in which animals work together to achieve a common goal.
- For example, ants working together to carry large insects.

Question 17

Negatives of a Social Group structure

(3)

Answer 17

• Easy detection of group by predators
• Increased risk of disease
• Competition for resource

Question 18

Positives of a Social Group structure

(3)

Answer 18

• Protection from predators
• Mating opportunity
• Increased emotional satisfaction and bonding

Question 19

Positives of a Eusocial Group structure

(3)

Answer 19

• Division of labour
• Cooperative brood care
• Acquiring food in groups

Question 20

Negatives of a Eusocial Group structure

(3)

Answer 20

• Easy detection of group by predators
• Increased risk of disease
• Competition for resource

Question 21

Negatives of a Monogamous Pair structure

(2)

Answer 21

• Reduces the potential for genetic variation
• Diminished access to other partners

Question 22

Positives of a Monogamous Pair structure

(3)

Answer 22

• Shared parental care
• Access to reproductive potential
• Shared territorial resources

Question 23

Positives of a Solitary structure

(2)

Answer 23

• More access to limited resources
• Less hunting

Question 24

Negatives of a Solitary structure

(3)

Answer 24

• Increased vulnerability to predators
• Limited access to mates
• Increased competition

Question 25

Provide three ways that we might alter and affect the social groupings of animals in captivity

Answer 25

- Often moved between facilities as part of breeding programs - Sometimes kept alone which can cause stress and even brain damage - Family groups in captivity are often disrupted which reduces the quality of their social interactions

Question 26

Agonistic Behaviour

Answer 26

Agonistic behaviour is behaviour associated with conflict between two or more animals.

Question 27

What does agonistic behaviour indicate?

Answer 27

- Usually indicates whether an animal will fight or retreat

Question 28

What does agonistic behaviour prevent?

Answer 28

Prevents fights by assessing which individual will be more likely to win

Question 29

Alloparenting

Answer 29

Alloparenting is when an individual provides care for young that are not their own.

Question 30

Benefits of Affiliative Behaviour | (3)

Answer 30

- Makes future cooperating more likely - Reduces likelihood of agonistic behaviours - Mutually beneficial - Share resources - Learn how to parent themselves - Safety from predators

Question 31

Hierachy

Answer 31

A system of rank and organisation within a social group.

Question 32

What is the purpose of a hierachy?

Answer 32

Reduces the frequecency of fighting.

Question 33

Linear Hierachy

Answer 33

Animals are dominated by higher ranking group members and in turn dominate lower ranking members.

Question 34

Complex Social Hierachy

Answer 34

Every member of the group is ranked relative to every other member.

Question 35

What might position in a social hierachy depend on?

Answer 35

- Size/Weight - Age - Sex - Features - Breeding

Question 36

Dominance

Answer 36

The situation where one animal repeatedly wins over another for a competed or contested resource.

Question 37

Submission

Answer 37

The situation where one animal repeatedly looses to another for a competed resource.

Question 38

Examples of dominant behaviour seen in dogs

Answer 38

- Direct/intense eye contact - Teeth barring - Growling - Standing tall - Tail up - Ears forward

Question 39

Examples of submissive behaviour seen in dogs

Answer 39

- Looking away - Mouth partly/fully closed - Whimpering - Crouched down - Tail down - Ears down - Exposed belly

Question 40

Behaviour

Answer 40

The actions and reactions of an individual animal in response to internal or external stimuli.

Question 41

Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Answer 41

This theory suggests that individuals within a species exhibit variation in traits, and those with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to their offspring.

Question 42

Lorenz Theory of Imprinting

Answer 42

Lorenz's work, including his experiments with goslings hatched in incubators, revealed that imprinting is a rapid and lasting form of attachment that occurs during a critical period after birth or hatching.