Relationships - intraspecific - 13 Biology

Intraspecific competition

Competition between members of the same species for food, water, shelter, mates, nesting sites or breeding sites etc. Territories and Hierarchies ensure that the limited resources go to the fittest members of the population of the species

Interspecific Competition

Competition between two different species for food, water, space etc

Hierarchy

A linear rank order of a group which is enforced when resources become limiting ensuring the fittest survive to produce offspring. Takes energy to establish rank but reduces fighting once rank established

Territory

An area DEFENDED by a group against others of the same species competing for the same limited resources such as food, water, shelter, breeding sites etc. Takes energy/time to defend but ultimately reduces aggression between groups so offspring can be reared

Alpha male / female

Highest/most Dominant rank in a hierarchy and have first access to all resources when these are limiting

Threat displays

Used to warn others and used to reduce aggressive harmful interactions - eg calls/songs/cries/bellows, fluffing up of feathers/fur to appear larger, etc

Beta male / female

Second in the rank order

Omega individual

Lowest/most subordinate rank in a hierarchy and have last access to all resources when these are limiting. While it would seem of no benefit lowest rank individuals do get resources when more plentiful, can get the protection from predators from being in the group, warmth if cuddle up to others and may improve rank as older member fail.

Rank

Place in a linear hierarchy sometimes called a pecking order

Ritualistic fighting

Used to signal dominance without causing actual harm includes a lot of noise, movement, chasing, fluffing up feathers/hair etc but if harm occurs it is not intentional

Home range

An area that a single animal or group of animals may gather resources from BUT is NOT defended

Dominant behaviour

Aggressive, forward focussed, will make self look larger ready to attack if needed,

Submissive behaviour

No eye contact, body kept small, may roll over, facing away from more dominant individuals

Courtship

A series of ritual behaviours to reduce aggression, attract and identify members of the opposite sex signal readiness to breed that ultimately end in mating eg songs and calls (booming on the kakapo lek/sky calling in albatross), dancing (mid air-humming birds)/ head bobbing ( albatross) , synchronised flying(albatross), gift giving (nesting materials, little pieces of food). Ensures the fittest individuals mate to produce the fittest offspring to continue the species

Agnostic behaviour

Social behaviour related to fighting like dominance/submission but NOT predation

Parental Care

The amount of care that an animal provides to its offspring. r-selection - no care - oysters. k-selection - lots of care - eg albatross, yellow eyed penguin

Pair bond

Establishes and maintains a stable relationship between animals of the opposite sex of the same species to help in the incubation and rearing of young. Often reinforced by ritualistic behaviours eg calls, bill tapping sky calling etc

Group cooperation

Ultimately to ensure that members of the group survive a possible threat (defence of young by adult muskox from wolves) or gain a resource that would not be able to do on their own eg - cooperative hunting of lioness in a pride

Group survival strategies

Clumping - slaters to reduce water loss, Confusion - fish swimming in schools, hives - bees working collectively using the division of labour principle

Kin selection

Where an individual does not breed but by their actions the survival of the whole group occurs. Usually within a group of related animals. As all individuals are related the genes of the group are passed on to the next generation of offspring - common in social insect groups - e.g. bees or naked mole rats or meerkats

Resources

Food, space, mates, breeding sites