Behavioral Ecology and Evolution
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Reviewing key concepts and definitions relating to behavioral ecology and cooperation among animals.
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60 Terms
What is the typical size of a meerkat mob?
20, but some mobs can number more than 40.
To which family do meerkats belong?
The mongoose family.
What is the primary hunting strategy of meerkats?
They hunt in packs while one member keeps watch as a sentry.
What is the term for behaviors that are performed without prior experience?
Innate behaviors.
What is the definition of behavior?
An internally generated response to an external stimulus.
Which animals exhibit cooperative hunting behavior?
Many whale species, including baleen whales.
What is altruism in the context of social behavior?
A behavior where the actor is harmed but the recipient benefits.
What is kin selection?
A mechanism where altruistic behavior spreads through helping related individuals reproduce.
What are the four categories of social interactions?
Cooperation, selfishness, altruism, and spite.
What evolutionary concept explains behaviors that benefit the group rather than the individual?
Group selection.
What is the key difference between proximate and ultimate questions in studying behavior?
Proximate questions seek to understand mechanisms (how), while ultimate questions seek to understand the adaptive value (why).
What is the dilution effect?
The concept that living in groups can reduce individual risk from predation.
How does individual selection typically compare to group selection?
Individual selection is usually stronger than group selection.
What did Dmitry Believ study in domesticated foxes?
The selection of tameness in foxes and its heritability.
What happens to individual behavior when animals are placed in more cooperative groups?
They may experience increased foraging success and improved anti-predator defenses.
What is the significance of behavioral ecology?
It studies the relationship between behavior and evolutionary fitness.
What is reciprocal altruism?
A mechanism where unrelated individuals help each other with the expectation of future help in return.
What is the typical size of a meerkat mob?
20, but some mobs can number more than 40.
To which family do meerkats belong?
The mongoose family.
What is the primary hunting strategy of meerkats?
They hunt in packs while one member keeps watch as a sentry.
What is the term for behaviors that are performed without prior experience?
Innate behaviors.
What is the definition of behavior?
An internally generated response to an external stimulus.
Which animals exhibit cooperative hunting behavior?
Many whale species, including baleen whales.
What is altruism in the context of social behavior?
A behavior where the actor is harmed but the recipient benefits.
What is kin selection?
A mechanism where altruistic behavior spreads through helping related individuals reproduce.
What are the four categories of social interactions?
Cooperation, selfishness, altruism, and spite.
What evolutionary concept explains behaviors that benefit the group rather than the individual?
Group selection.
What is the key difference between proximate and ultimate questions in studying behavior?
Proximate questions seek to understand mechanisms (how), while ultimate questions seek to understand the adaptive value (why).
What is the dilution effect?
The concept that living in groups can reduce individual risk from predation.
How does individual selection typically compare to group selection?
Individual selection is usually stronger than group selection.
What did Dmitry Believ study in domesticated foxes?
The selection of tameness in foxes and its heritability.
What happens to individual behavior when animals are placed in more cooperative groups?
They may experience increased foraging success and improved anti-predator defenses.
What is the significance of behavioral ecology?
It studies the relationship between behavior and evolutionary fitness.
What is reciprocal altruism?
A mechanism where unrelated individuals help each other with the expectation of future help in return.
What is cooperation in social interactions?
A behavior that benefits both the actor and the recipient.
What is selfishness in social interactions?
A behavior that benefits the actor but harms the recipient.
What is spite in social interactions?
A behavior that harms both the actor and the recipient.
What is the typical size of a meerkat mob?
20, but some mobs can number more than 40.
To which family do meerkats belong?
The mongoose family.
What is the primary hunting strategy of meerkats?
They hunt in packs while one member keeps watch as a sentry.
What is the term for behaviors that are performed without prior experience?
Innate behaviors.
What is the definition of behavior?
An internally generated response to an external stimulus.
Which animals exhibit cooperative hunting behavior?
Many whale species, including baleen whales.
What is altruism in the context of social behavior?
A behavior where the actor is harmed but the recipient benefits.
What is kin selection?
A mechanism where altruistic behavior spreads through helping related individuals reproduce.
What are the four categories of social interactions?
Cooperation, selfishness, altruism, and spite.
What evolutionary concept explains behaviors that benefit the group rather than the individual?
Group selection.
What is the key difference between proximate and ultimate questions in studying behavior?
Proximate questions seek to understand mechanisms (how), while ultimate questions seek to understand the adaptive value (why).
What is the dilution effect?
The concept that living in groups can reduce individual risk from predation.
How does individual selection typically compare to group selection?
Individual selection is usually stronger than group selection.
What did Dmitry Believ study in domesticated foxes?
The selection of tameness in foxes and its heritability.
What happens to individual behavior when animals are placed in more cooperative groups?
They may experience increased foraging success and improved anti-predator defenses.
What is the significance of behavioral ecology?
It studies the relationship between behavior and evolutionary fitness.
What is reciprocal altruism?
A mechanism where unrelated individuals help each other with the expectation of future help in return.
What is cooperation in social interactions?
A behavior that benefits both the actor and the recipient.
What is selfishness in social interactions?
A behavior that benefits the actor but harms the recipient.
What is spite in social interactions?
A behavior that harms both the actor and the recipient.
Give an example of a proximate question about bird song.
How do hormonal changes influence the timing and intensity of singing behavior in birds?
Give an example of an ultimate question about bird song.
Why has singing evolved in birds as a way to attract mates and defend territories, enhancing reproductive success?
What are some potential costs of living in social groups?
Increased competition for resources, higher risk of disease transmission, and increased visibility to predators.