Cooperative Intraspecific Relationships

open group

individuals may enter or leave at anytime

closed group

entry or exit of group is prohibites, recognised members

advantages of a group

safety in numbers, knowledge passed down, specialisation of roles, cooperative food gathering, efficiency in locomotion, modify environment

disadvantages of a group

increase spread of disease and parasites, more competition for resources, higher chance of conflict

courtship rituals

signals (release of pheromones, auditory, dances) exchanged between male and female to allow mating

advantages of courting

species recogniton, attract mates from a distance, natural selection (individuals choose best mates (stronger, good looking)), establish pair bonds

pair bond

relationship that lasts longer than mating, work together to rear offspring

precocial young

born in advanced state (eg. able to walk)

altrical young

born blind and helpless (need parental care)

r-strategy

large number of offspring, little parental care, less risk to parents, low survival chance of offspring

k-strategy

few offspring, large investment in offspring (parental care), higher risk to parents, higher survival chance of offspring

polygyny

One male mating with many females

polyandry

One female mating with many males

sexually dimorphic

When male and female have different phenotypes

altruism

Self-sacrificing behaviour

kin selection

Self-sacrificing behaviour towards related individuals