Ornithology Final Exam

Define Flocks

Non-Breeding aggregations

1 pro of Flocks

Lots of eyes and ears

2 pro of flocks

selfish head

3 pro of flocks

enhanced feeding

4 pro flocks

convenience

5 pro flocks

information center

Cons flock

attract predators

2 cons flocks

less food

3 cons flocks

more competition and fighting

Colonies

Breeding aggregations of varying size

Often associated with limited nesting sites

Used as a base from which foraging flights occur

pros to colonies

group vigilance

2 pro to colonies

social foraging (shared information on patch resources)

cons of colonies

competition

2 cons of colonies

predator attraction

3 con of colonies

parasites and disease

Social polygyny

1 male is paired with 2 or more females

social polyandry

1 female is paired with 2 or more males

social promiscuity

no pair bond established. males and females breed with as many pairs as possible

intrasexual competition

one gender competes among themselves for access to mates: size and strength

intersexual mate choice

one gender, females, pick mates based on desired traits

Differential parental investment

male and female parental time taking care of offspring

Batemans Principle

The sex which invests the most in offspring will become a limiting resource over which the other sex competes

Fishers Hypothesis

runaway feedback between female preference and male displays (long tails)

Direct Benefit Hypothesis

The trait being selected by females provides a direct benefit to the fitness of the male

Good Gene hypothesis

Trait being selected for is an indicator of good genes

Cats

House cats catching birds

Window collisions

birds can’t see the windows and run into them

Wind Turbines

Placed along migration routes

affect species disproportionately

Lacey Act

Bans trafficking in fish, wildlife, or plants that are illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold

Pittman-Robertson Act

Finances wildlife conservation and habitat restoration through an 11% federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment distributed to states to fund wildlife projects