Social Behaviour 3.6 Flashcards
(42 cards)
Many animals live in social groups and have behaviours that are adapted to group living such as…
Social Hierarchy
Cooperative hunting
Social Defence
What is social hierarchy?
A rank order within a group of animals consisting of a dominant and subordinate members.
How is the dominant position established?
By ritualistic (threat) display behaviour.
How are the subordinate positions established?
They carry out appeasement behaviour to reduce conflict.
Why are animals form alliances in social hierarchies?
To increase their social status within the group.
(With the example of wolves) what type of privileges will the dominant male have?
First choice of food, sleeping locations and mates.
(With the example of wolves) What threat gestures are used to show his powers?
Raising of ears, baring of teeth and widening eyes.
(with the example of wolves) what submissive behaviour is used by the subordinates?
All body parts lowered, covering teeth and averting gaze.
What is a pecking order in birds?
The dominant individual can peck all the others but does not get pecked in return.
The bird below this one can peck all the birds except the first and so on.
What are the advantages of social hierarchy?
- There is an increased chance of species survival
- Increased chance of the dominant animals’ favourable genes being passed to offspring
- Reduces aggression between group members
- Guaranteed experienced leadership
What is Cooperative Hunting?
It involves a group of animals working together to find and catch prey.
How does cooperative hunting benefit the group?
- More likely to successfully kill prey
- Sharing of food so all members gain more energy than by -foraging alone
- Energy used per individual is decreased
- Allows larger prey to be brought down
What are some examples of animals that use cooperative hunting?
Dogs/Wolves
Lions
Chimps
Dolphins
What is social defence?
Involves a group of animals acting together to defend.
What are some ways of social defence? (4)
- Some individuals can watch for predators whilst others can forage for food
- Many individuals can better fend off predator attacks
- Many ears, eyes and noses are more likely to detect predators
- Travelling as a group makes it more difficult for predators to pick off an individual and can protect vulnerable individuals. Groups adopt specialised formations when under attack protecting their young
What do social defence strategies do?
Increase the chance of survival
What is an Altruistic Behaviour?
It is one which harms the donor but benefits the recipient.
What is reciprocal altruism?
Often occurs in social animals. It relies on the idea that the roles of the donor and recipient will later reverse.
(Favour returned)
What is Kin Selection and how is it beneficial?
Altruistic between related individuals. The donor will benefit indirectly in terms of the increased chances of survival of shared genes in the recipient’s offspring or future offspring.
What are social insects and what do they do?
Social insects exhibit social behaviours which means that they live together in large organised family groups and exhibit a range of complex behaviour like:
- Cooperative care young
- Parents and their offspring living together
- The development of a caste system
What are some examples of social insects?
Bees, wasps, ants and termites
What does the reproduction and survival of a colony depend on?
All members working together
Who is responsible for reproduction?
Only a few fertile individuals (namely queens and drones) contribute reproductively to the group
Who is responsible for food gathering, rearing young and defence? (Social insects)
These roles are carried out by lots of sterile members of the colony. These workers cooperate with close relatives to raise relatives. By helping raise relatives, sterile workers increase survival of shared genes.
