Behavioral Ecology

Symbiosis

A close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.

Neutralism

Neither species benefits or is harmed

Competition

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit

Protocooperation

A mutually beneficial interaction between organisms in which the interaction is not physiologically necessary to the survival of either

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Amensalism

a relationship in which one organism is harmed and the other is unaffected

Predation

An interaction in which one organism kills another for food.

Parasitism

A relationship between two organisms where one obtains food at the expense of the other without killing it

Herbivory

interaction in which one animal feeds on producers

Parasitiod

A specialized type of predator that lays eggs inside other organisms - referred to as its host Is a parasite for most of the time but eventually becomes a predator and kills the host

interspecies competition

two or more species using the same limited resource

intraspecies competition

competition between organisms of the same species

What is energetic cost?

The difference between resting energy expenditure and the energy expended in performing a behavior.

What is risk cost?

The increased chance of being killed or injured as a result of an action.

What is opportunity cost?

The sum of forfeited benefits the animal gives up by not performing other actions during the same time. Opportunity cost of going to school is lossing work

3 components of cost

1. energetic cost
2. risk cost
3. opportunity cost

territory vs cost

Optical foraging

provides maximal net rate of energy gain

Why would you choose a medium prey

Small- To little reward for the energy spent Large- Able to fight back so you use more energy

Benefits of social behavior

more prey- reduces the chance of getting eaten more predators- able to hunt larger prey (coyote vs elephant)

Costs of social behavior

increased competition interference diseases spread

Population

group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

Predator vs prey population graph

The predator population doesn't control prey population When rabbits are by themselves the cycle still happens

Prey Adaptations

1. toxin hairs and bristles (lionfish)
2. tough spines or tough outer covering (armadillo)
3. noxious chemicals (skunk and poison dart frogs)
4. Camouflage (caterpillars and fawns)
5. Mimicary

Batesian mimicry

A type of mimicry in which a harmless species looks like a species that is poisonous or otherwise harmful to predators (caterpillars that look like snakes)

Mullerian mimicry

two or more unpalatable species resemble each other (bees and wasps)