Unit 1

Question 1

What is Darwinian fitness and who does it apply to?

Answer 1

It is the relative survival and reproductive success of individuals compared to others in their population

Question 2

What are the arguments against group selection?

Answer 2

1) Cheaters
2) Immigration blurs in-group vs out-group
3) Individual selection runs faster

Question 3

Describe the optimal design for behavioural ecology experiments

Answer 3

Hypothesize the explanation for what a characteristic is “designed” for. Predict what you should see if your hypothesis is correct.

Question 4

What is an ESS?

Answer 4

Evolutionary stable strategy. The strategy that when adopted by most members of a group is the most beneficial.

Question 5

Which model best demonstrates diminishing returns for foraging?

Answer 5

Patch model

Question 6

Which foraging model best displays decisions b/t alternatives?

Answer 6

Prey choice model

Question 7

What are the constraints and currency of the patch model?

Answer 7

Constraints are gain curve and travel time. Currency is energetic efficiency (E gained vs E spent)

Question 8

What are the constraints and currency of the prey-choice model?

Answer 8

Constraints are energy per item, handling time, search time. Currency is rate of energy gain (Ea / (Sa+Ha))