H Biology - Unit 3 - KA6 - Social Behaviour

What does social hierarchy do?

Social hierarchy organises individuals in a group into rank order

What will high rank individuals in a hierarchy be?

High rank individuals in a hierarchy will be dominant

What do high rank individuals in a group do?

High rank individuals in a group will carry out ritualistic displays to maintain rank

What are examples of ritualistic behaviours performed by high rank individuals to maintain rank?

Examples of ritualistic behaviours performed by high rank individuals to maintain rank are;

• Teeth baring

• Chest beating

What will low rank individuals in a hierarchy be?

Low rank individuals in a hierarchy will be submissive

What do low rank individuals in a group do?

Low rank individuals in a group will carry out appeasement behaviours to reduce conflict

What are examples of appeasement behaviours carried out by low rank individuals to reduce conflict?

Examples of appeasement behaviours carried out by low rank individuals to reduce conflict are;

• Lowered body position

• Ears and tail tucked down

• Grooming

What does social hierarchy behaviour increase?

Social hierarchy behaviour increases species chance of survival

How does a social hierarchy increase species chance of survival?

A social hierarchy increases species chance of survival because;

• Energy is not wasted fighting

• The most powerful member of the group is more likely to pass on favourable alleles to the next generation

What is cooperative hunting?

Cooperative hunting is when members of a social group cooperate to hunt prey

What are examples of organisms that hunt cooperatively?

Examples of organisms that hunt cooperatively are;

• Lions (Panthera leo)

• Painted dogs (Lycaon pictus)

What are benefits of cooperative hunting?

Benefits of cooperative hunting are;

• Groups can tackle larger prey than an individual could alone

• Subordinate animals gain more food than they would hunting alone

What does being in a large group provide?

Being in a large group provides protection and defence against attack

What are benefits of social defence?

Benefits of social defence are;

• Some individuals can keep watch for predators while others eat

• Increased chance of individuals surviving

• Individuals can work together to defend against attack. For example, musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) form a defensive ring around calves with horns facing outwards

What is altruistic behaviour?

Altruistic behaviour is behaviour that harms the donor and benefits the recipient

What is altruism between related individuals called?

Altruism between related individuals is called kin selection.

How does the donor benefit in kin selection?

In kin selection, the donor benefits because there is an increased chance of their shared genes being passed on to the recipients offspring

What is reciprocal altruism?

Reciprocal altruism is a form of altruism where the roles of the donor and recipient are reversed

What is an example of reciprocal altruism?

• An example of reciprocal altruism is in vampire bats (Desmodontinae spp.). Vampire bats regurgitate part of their meal to feed to other bats that have not fed.

• Bats are more likely to feed a bat that has fed them before

How is social insect society organised?

Social insect society is organised so that some individuals reproduce and other sterile individuals cooperate with relatives to raise relatives

What are examples of social insects?

Examples of social insects are;

• Ants

• Wasps

• Bees

• Termites

What are the different roles in social insect society?

The different roles in social insect society are;

• Queen

• Drone

• Worker

In social insects, what is a queen?

In social insects, a queen is the one fertile adult female

In social insects, what is a drone?

In social insects, a drone is a fertile adult male who reproduces with a queen to populate the colony

In social insects, what is a worker?

In social insects, a worker is a sterile individual that takes on all other roles

What are the other roles taken on by workers in a colony?

The other roles taken on by workers in a colony are;

• Feeding and caring for young

• Finding and gathering food

• Building and repairing hive or nest

• Defending hive or nest

What do primates have?

Primates have a long period of parental care

What does a long period of parental care in primates allow for?

Primates having a long period of parental care allows for them to learn complex social behaviours

What do complex social behaviours in primate groups support?

Complex social behaviours in primate groups support the social hierarchy of the group

What are examples of ritualistic displays in primates?

Examples of ritualistic displays in primates are;

• Chest beating

• Strutting walk

• Roaring

What are examples of appeasement behaviours in primates?

Examples of appeasement behaviours in primates are;

• Grooming

• Smiling

• Bowing head

What do ritualistic displays and appeasement behaviour reduce?

Ritualistic displays and appeasement behaviour reduce unnecessary conflict in the social group

What does reducing unnecessary conflict in the social group increase?

Reducing unnecessary conflict in the social group increases the chance of survival

What is often formed between lower ranking members of the social hierarchy?

Alliances are often formed between lower ranking members of the social hierarchy.

What do alliances allow lower ranking members of the social hierarchy to do?

Alliances between lower ranking members of the social hierarchy can allow individuals to increase their social ranking in the group

What is an example of a primate that forms alliances?

An example of a primate that forms alliances is the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)