How is behaviour like every biological trait
has evolutionary basis
How does biology differ from other sciences
several ways to answer questions about ‘causation’ - the processes underlying not only behaviour, but all biological phenomena
What have studies of birdsongs revealed?
- how songs are encoded in the brain (song centre regularly grows new cells)
- when and how birds learn songs
- what songs are for in nature
- helped understand how neurone work, how brain develops, how learning process works, why some things are learned rather than built in as instinct
What are the 4 ways of answering causation
- phylogeny
- Fitness
- Mechanism
- Development
What does phylogeny say about causation
- explanation about evolutionary history
What does fitness say about causation?
- effects on survival and reproduction
- ‘why’ or ‘ultimate explaination
What does mechanism say about causation
- description of how it works
- ‘how’ or ‘proximate’ answer
What does development/ontogeny say about causation
What are proximate answers
concern mechanisms - the developmental, neural, hormonal, psychological, and anatomical responses to HOW something is the way it is
What are Ultimate Answers
concern evolutionary reasons WHY somethings became the way it is
What is behavioural ecology
- study of behaviour in its natural, ecological context, emphasis on understanding its fitness consequences
What did behavioural ecology bring the importance of?
distinguishing carefully between the different kinds of explanations for biological causation into sharpest focus
What are some natural behaviours that use natural selection to understand them?
foraging, mating, migration, communication, social behaviours…
What is sexual selection
arising from competition for mates
- forms of weaponry and combat between males for access to males?
- bright colours and elaborate displays from males to attract females
Who is Paul Sherman
1988 paper
- behavioural ecologist
- how many disputes in biology about causation were futile since the types of answer were different, so both sides of the unnecessary argument could be correct
Who was David Sloan Wilson
- Evolution for Everyone
- topic of infanticide
Who is Sarah Hrdy?
Theory of mammalian infanticide
- objections to evolutionary ideas about behaviour )not limited to political inclinations or religious affiliations)
What are debates like infanticide, rape, diseases, other human behaviour based off of conclusions
illogical conclusion that if something is natural it can be justified = absurd
How would anaerobic bacteria react when oxygen rises
- live in places with little oxygen (mud of marshes and tidal flats, in gut)
- adapt and ‘keep up’
How have humans undergone a very short timespan of about 10,000 years two major environmental transitions
1 hunting gathering lifestyle -> agricultural societies -> urban industrial environments
- behaviour evolved in environmental context different in many important respects from that in which most now live
What are some explanations of causation
- mechanisms - how, causal, proximate
- ontogeny - development
- phylogeny - evolutionary origin
- natural selection - why, functional, ultimate (why evolution has favoured this particular mechanism)
How do stellar and organic evolution differ?
- universe = ancient and constantly changing (yes)
- Ongoing change is steady and gradual (yes)
- common descent of stars (no)
- new stars are always being formed (yes)
- natural selection (no)
THERE IS NO ‘WHY’
What is the selfish herd effect
each individual seeks safety by reducing the ‘domain of danger’
what are benefits of group living
- selfish herd effect
-foraging benefits
