Function of behaviour

Question 1

What is the primary function of behaviour in most animals?

Answer 1

-behaviour is designed to make more offspring and/or to help the species live for as long as possible

Question 2

Definition of selection?

Answer 2

• designing agent
• sifts variants of behaviour with favour to those that provide bearer with greater representation in the next generation

Question 3

Definition of natural selection?

Answer 3

• individuals that survive the limited resources vary in attributes
• the function of those behaviours within a population best fit the environment
• those with attributes best suited to the environment will survive and pass on those genes to influence the qualities of the next generation and ensure those survival genes are definitely passed on

Question 4

Definition of fecundity?

Answer 4

• number of young can produce
• ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth
• fertility

Question 5

What do behaviours function to maximise?

Answer 5

• likelihood of long-term survival

- lifetime reproductive output

Question 6

Which behaviours maximise survival?

Answer 6

• hiding from predators
• escaping from predators
• increasing amount of food eaten
• reducing energetic costs

Question 7

What behaviours have a survival function?

Answer 7

• hiding/escaping predators
• crypsis/camouflage
• hiding in a powerful social group
• show of strength/fitness
• increase of food eaten
• reduce energetic cost

Question 8

What behaviours aid reproduction?

Answer 8

• increasing attractiveness
• increasing access to mates
• increasing fecundity
• increasing survival of young

Question 9

Example of how animals can have control over the offspring they have?

Answer 9

• deer
• if the female has good quality nutrition they’ll have male offspring
• if it’s not as good nutrition but still enough to have offspring it will be female

Question 10

What behaviours reduce the cost to ‘self’ and increase chances of future reproduction?

Answer 10

• having partner to split the labour with
• making one partner do all the work
• making family do some work
• making someone else do all the work

Question 11

Definition of mobbing?

Answer 11

-animals gang together to drive away a predator out of their territory