Lecture 13. Anti-Predator Adaptations

These flashcards cover terms and definitions related to anti-predator adaptations in animals and the evolutionary concepts that drive these behaviors.

Adaptation

A hereditary trait that has spread or is spreading by natural selection and has a fitness-benefit-to-fitness-cost ratio compared to alternative traits.

Anti-predator adaptations

Traits or behaviors that organisms develop to avoid being preyed upon.

Nocturnality

A behavioral adaptation where animals are active at night to avoid predators.

Camouflage

An adaptation that allows animals to blend in with their environment, making them less visible to predators.

Autotomy

A defensive mechanism where an animal self-amputates a part of its body to escape a predator.

Aposematic coloration

Bright coloring in animals that serves as a warning to predators that the animal is toxic.

Mimicry

An adaptation where one species evolves to resemble another species to gain protection from predators.

Deimatic behavior

A defensive behavior that involves startling or scaring potential predators.

Dilution effect

A strategy where the risk of predation is reduced by the presence of many individuals in a group.

Suicidal altruism

Behavior that involves sacrificing oneself to benefit the survival of others in the group.

Pursuit-deterrent signals

Signals or behaviors exhibited by prey to indicate their fitness and discourage predators.

Thanatosis

An anti-predator strategy where an animal plays dead to avoid predation.

Alarm calls

Vocalizations made by animals to warn others of an approaching predator.

Fitness

The probability of reproductive or genetic success, measured by the number of offspring produced.

Optimality theory

A theory suggesting that natural selection favors traits with the greatest benefit-to-cost ratio.

Mobbing behavior

A group defense tactic where individuals harass or attack a predator to protect their young.

Genetic variation

Diversity in gene frequencies within a population, which can provide advantages in varying environments.

Polyphenism

The phenomenon where two or more distinct phenotypes exist within a species.

Fitness displays

Behavioral displays that indicate the physical condition or stamina of an organism to deter predators.