Introduction to Animal Behaviour and Ecology

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on animal behavior and ecology, including Tinbergen's questions, behavioral patterns, and principles of evolution.

What are Tinbergen's four questions in behavioral ecology?

They are the ultimate questions of evolutionary history and adaptive function, and the proximate questions of development and mechanisms.

What is an example of a Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)?

A goose retrieving an egg, which involves a stereotypical behavior triggered by the egg's presence.

What does the term 'imprinting' refer to in animal behavior?

A type of pre-programmed learning in young animals occurring during a critical period.

What is the difference between learned behaviors and innate behaviors?

Learned behaviors depend on prior experiences, while innate behaviors are instinctive and genetically determined.

How do hormones influence animal behavior?

Hormones are chemicals that can trigger changes in behavior, such as reproduction readiness in female Anolis carolinensis when a male is present.

What is classical conditioning?

A learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

What is the difference between resource availability and competition in habitat selection?

Resource availability refers to the presence of important resources in an environment, while competition relates to the number of individuals that can lead to resource scarcity.

What are the three types of populations based on individual distribution?

Random, uniform, and clumped distributions.

What is Hamilton's Rule?

An altruistic allele will spread if the 'weighted' benefit to the recipient is greater than the cost to the actor.

What are r-strategists and K-strategists in life history strategies?

r-strategists have high fecundity and grow quickly, while K-strategists invest more in survival and have fewer offspring.

What is the ecological niche?

The combination of a species' physical habitat and its ecological role, influenced by abiotic and biotic factors.

What are Tinbergen's four questions in behavioral ecology?

They are the ultimate questions of evolutionary history and adaptive function, and the proximate questions of development and mechanisms.

What is an example of a Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)?

A goose retrieving an egg, which involves a stereotypical behavior triggered by the egg's presence.

What does the term 'imprinting' refer to in animal behavior?

A type of pre-programmed learning in young animals occurring during a critical period.

What is the difference between learned behaviors and innate behaviors?

Learned behaviors depend on prior experiences, while innate behaviors are instinctive and genetically determined.

How do hormones influence animal behavior?

Hormones are chemicals that can trigger changes in behavior, such as reproduction readiness in female Anolis carolinensis when a male is present.

What is classical conditioning?

A learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

What is the difference between resource availability and competition in habitat selection?

Resource availability refers to the presence of important resources in an environment, while competition relates to the number of individuals that can lead to resource scarcity.

What are the three types of populations based on individual distribution?

Random, uniform, and clumped distributions.

What is Hamilton's Rule?

An altruistic allele will spread if the 'weighted' benefit to the recipient is greater than the cost to the actor.

What are r-strategists and K-strategists in life history strategies?

r-strategists have high fecundity and grow quickly, while K-strategists invest more in survival and have fewer offspring.

What is the ecological niche?

The combination of a species' physical habitat and its ecological role, influenced by abiotic and bi

What are Tinbergen's four questions in behavioral ecology?

They are the ultimate questions of evolutionary history and adaptive function, and the proximate questions of development and mechanisms.

What is an example of a Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)?

A goose retrieving an egg, which involves a stereotypical behavior triggered by the egg's presence.

What does the term 'imprinting' refer to in animal behavior?

A type of pre-programmed learning in young animals occurring during a critical period.

What is the difference between learned behaviors and innate behaviors?

Learned behaviors depend on prior experiences, while innate behaviors are instinctive and genetically determined.

How do hormones influence animal behavior?

Hormones are chemicals that can trigger changes in behavior, such as reproduction readiness in female Anolis carolinensis when a male is present.

What is classical conditioning?

A learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

What is the difference between resource availability and competition in habitat selection?

Resource availability refers to the presence of important resources in an environment, while competition relates to the number of individuals that can lead to resource scarcity.

What are the three types of populations based on individual distribution?

Random, uniform, and clumped distributions.

What is Hamilton's Rule?

An altruistic allele will spread if the 'weighted' benefit to the recipient is greater than the cost to the actor.

What are r-strategists and K-strategists in life history strategies?

r-strategists have high fecundity and grow quickly, while K-strategists invest more in survival and have fewer offspring.

What is the ecological niche?

The combination of a species' physical habitat and its ecological role, influenced by abiotic and bi