Living in groups Flashcards
(15 cards)
Name some types of animal groups.
Colonies, shoals, flocks, packs, herds, troops, crowds.
What is the “many eyes” benefit of living in groups?
Individuals in larger groups spend less time vigilant but collectively more likely to spot threats.
What is the “dilution effect” in group living?
Individuals in larger groups are less likely to be captured because the risk is spread across many members.
List three benefits of living in groups.
Better predator detection, more efficient hunting, mating opportunities.
What are some costs of living in large groups?
Increased competition for resources, higher energetic costs, greater disease risk.
What are some types of social groups in animals?
Family groups, harems/polygynous groups, bachelor groups, multi-male multi-female groups, hierarchies.
What is fission-fusion dynamics?
A social structure where group size and composition change frequently as individuals split off or join groups.
What is altruism in evolutionary terms?
Cooperative behavior favoring relatives’ reproductive success, explained by kin selection (Hamilton’s rule: c < r * b).
What does Hamilton’s rule (c < r * b) represent?
he cost to the altruist (c) must be less than the benefit to the recipient (b) times the coefficient of relatedness (r).
Give an example of altruism involving alarm calls.
An animal risks its life to warn relatives of predators, increasing their survival.
What is mutualistic or reciprocal altruism?
Cooperation where individuals help each other with the expectation of future reciprocation (e.g., vampire bats sharing blood meals).
What is biological market theory?
Animals exchange goods/services like grooming, food, sex, or social support.
What is an example of coordinated hunting between species?
Groupers and eels hunting together, each exploiting different prey escape routes.
What is selfish herd behavior?
Individuals reduce their predation risk by positioning themselves in the center of a group (e.g., sheep flocking).
What is spite behavior and how common is it?
Harmful acts at a cost to oneself to harm others; very rare and requires restrictive conditions to evolve.
