Animal Behavior Exam 3

is defined as parental investment that is made after parturition (birth or laying). this is seen as shelter, provision young with food, protection. results: conflict, individual recognition, cheaters

often associated with external fertilization. For example, male care is more common in fish and frogs than in most other groups of animals.

Sibling conflict, parent conflict with offspring

Conflict, individual recognition, cheaters (cuckoos)

Animals that exhibit extensive group living, interacting socially beyond the context of mating, are often referred to as Social species. involves overlap of generations and cooperation in rearing youth

-Advanced sociality is often associated with family groups -Some animals show abilities to discriminate among classes of genetic relatives (kin)

-Kin selection is an extension of the theory of evolution by natural selection.Recognizes that an animals’ alleles can be passed on via relatives’ reproduction
-Hamilton recognized that animals gain fitness (RS) by increasing the representation of their genes in the next generation by having their own offspring, and by helping relatives have offspring. -Hamilton's brilliant insight was that animals share genes with their offspring, but they also share genes with other kinds of relatives!

genetic altruism to evolve, B/C > 1/r
This model predicts that, in general, altruism should evolve more often in species with groups of close relatives.

Costs of Sociality: Sociality entails many costs for participants, including increased competition and increased disease transmission. Parasite infection rates can increase in social groups

Enhaced foraging effectiveness (cooperative foraging), increased cooperation for example in defense

individuals benefit because of dilution effects or force of numbers- there are no specially evolved cooperative behaviors.

In highest form of sociality (eusociality), there are sterile helpers (reproductive division of labor). -Effective communication (social displays) -Increased division of labor/ reproductive division of labor: Castes -Complex behavioral output -foraging communication

Breeders and helpers, dominance and aggression

leads to social parasites

species that invade animal societies and live off of their resources.

-early developmental switch point: follow different developmental pathways leading to playing different roles in society. Lack of plasticity very early on -greater degrees of specialization: increased differentiation. Express a very narrow slice of behavioral repertoire/very little overlap/evolutionarily adding of new behavior abilities