Animal Domestication

These flashcards cover the key concepts and vocabulary related to the process of animal domestication as outlined in the lecture notes.

Domestication

The process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or on a farm, and/or cultivating a plant for food.

Taming

Altering an individual animal’s behaviour to reduce fear of humans.

Commensal Pathway

A domestication pathway where wild animals voluntarily habituate to human environments to exploit waste or disturbed habitats, forming a mutualistic relationship.

Prey Pathway

Transitioning from active hunting of wild animals to herd management for resources such as meat or milk.

Directed Pathway

Humans actively intervene to tame a free-living species for a specialized purpose, typically resulting in a loss of genetic diversity.

Domestication Syndrome

A set of correlated physical and behavioral traits that frequently appear together in domesticated animals compared to their wild ancestors.

Habituation

The process through which animals with lower fear thresholds become accustomed to human habitats.

Commensalism

A relationship where both species, humans and domesticated animals, gain mutual benefits.

Neoteny

The retention of juvenile characteristics in adults, commonly selected for in domesticated animals.

Obstacles to Domestication

Factors such as diet, growth rate, disposition, breeding reluctance, dominance hierarchies, and panic tendencies that affect a species' ability to be domesticated.

Impacts of Domestication on Human Societies

Changes such as division of labor, social stratification, transportation, and technological advancement resulting from the domestication of animals.

Urbanization

The process of humans settling and developing cities and villages inspired by domestication, leading to the decline of nomadic lifestyles.

Zoonotic Diseases

Diseases that emerge from close contact between humans and animals, allowing for exposure to new pathogens.

Fertile Crescent

Historical region significant for the early domestication of various species including pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats.

Case Study: Dog

The first domesticated animal, with domestication occurring between 15,000-36,000 years ago.

Case Study: Sheep/Goats

Domesticated approximately 11,000 and 10,500 years ago respectively, primarily in the Fertile Crescent.

Case Study: Horse

Domesticated around 5500 years ago in Central Asia, undergoing selective breeding for temperament and traits.