Unit 2 Flashcards
Anthropomorphism
the attribution of human characteristics or behaviour and emotions to an animals behaviour
anthropoids
joint legged invertebrates that are identified by their segmented bodies, typically with pared appendages
chordates
sea squirts and vertebrates
convergent evolution
the independent evolution of similar features in different species
divergent evolution
the process whereby groups from the same common ancestor evolve and accumulate differences, resulting in the formation of a new species
duration
the length of time each behaviour occurs during the observation period
elusive species
species that are difficult to see because of their habitat, behaviour or rarity
ethogram
list species-specific behaviours to be observed and recorded in the study
frequency
the number of times a behaviour occurs within the observation period
indicator species
species that, by their presence absence or abundance, can give information about an environmental factor
latency
the time between the stimulus occurring and the response behaviour
mark and recapture
method for estimating population size, a sample of the population is captured, marked and released (M); after an interval of time a second sample captured (C); if some individuals in the second sample are recaptures (R); estimate of the total population (N) can be calculated
model organisms
organisms that are either easily studied or have been well studied to provide information that can be applied to other species that are more difficult to study directly
nematodes
ask called roundworms; unsegmented thread like body; many of them are parasitic, living inside their host
phylogenetics
the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms
point count
sampling technique that involves the observer recording all individuals seen from a fixed point
taxonomy
the identification and naming of organisms and their classification groups, based on shared characteristics
absolute fitness
the ratio between the number of individuals of a particular genotype after selection to those before selection
bottleneck effect
a sharp reduction in the size of the population due to environmental events or human activities
co-evolution
the process by which two or more species revolve in response to selection pressures imposed by each other
commensalism
symbiosis in which only one species benefits (+/0)
evolution
the change over time in the proportion of individuals in a population differing in one or more inherited traits
female choice
a mechanism of sexual selection in which females asses males fitness and choose the male with which they will mate
fitness
a measure of the tendency of some organisms to produce more surviving offspring than competing members of the same species - also shows low parasitic burden