30 Questions
What is the primary function of animal communication as described in the text?
Monitoring behavior of neighbors
Which type of communication involves signals that keep individuals aware of each other's presence?
Contact communication
What does foraging theory predict about animals' decisions according to the text?
Decisions maximizing energy per unit time will be selected for
Which type of communication involves identification of rank and solicitation of parental care by offspring?
Status communication
What aspect of animal behavior does foraging primarily influence?
Survival and reproduction ability
In animal communication, what does sexual receptivity involve?
Identification of physiological readiness to mate
What is Group Foraging?
When animals forage in the presence of other individuals
What are some benefits of Group Foraging?
Reduced predation threat
What is scramble competition in the context of group foraging?
Where each individual competes to get a portion of a shared resource
How does group foraging affect an animal's foraging payoff?
Reduces it due to competition for resources
What do female lions consider when making foraging decisions?
Hunting group size with cubs and territory defense in mind
What does Optimal Foraging Theory help predict?
How an animal behaves when searching for food
What do behavioral ecologists distinguish between?
Proximal and ultimate causes of behavior
What is group selection in evolution?
Natural selection acting at the level of the group
What is the focus of behavioral ecology?
Studying the evolutionary basis of animal behavior under ecological pressures
According to Wynne Edwards (1960), why did he argue for group selection?
To explain subordination of selfish interests for group wellbeing
Which concept posits that natural selection benefits the whole group or species?
Group selection
What is the main focus of behavioral ecology research?
Studying how ecological pressures influence animal behavior
What is a predator?
An organism that consumes others
How does learning influence foraging behavior?
By enhancing the ability to adjust foraging behavior based on previous experiences
What is a key factor influencing foraging behavior apart from learning and genetics?
Predators and Parasites
What is a prey in the context of foraging behavior?
An organism that is eaten by another
How does the presence of predators affect foraging behavior?
Foragers change their behavior to balance predation risk with their needs
What does solitary foraging involve?
Foraging alone to find, capture, and consume prey
What did Maynard Smith demonstrate about group selection?
It does not work when the number of successful migrants per group exceeds one.
What does altruism in animals refer to?
An action that benefits others at the cost of the giver's fitness.
What is the concept behind kin selection theory?
Closely related individuals benefit more from altruistic behavior.
How do vampire bats exhibit altruism?
By regurgitating blood to feed hungry conspecifics.
What is a characteristic of altruistic behavior according to the text?
It can decrease the survival chances of the individual performing it.
Why does kin selection theory suggest helping relatives with reproduction?
To spread shared genes even at a cost to one's own reproductive success.
Learn about the fundamentals of Behavioral Ecology, including the definition of behavior, distinction between proximate and ultimate causes of behavior, and the evolutionary perspective on animal interactions with the environment.
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