Behavioural Ecology Review Quiz

5 Questions

Define behavioural ecology and explain its focus on adaptive traits.

Behavioural ecology is the scientific study of behavioural phenomena in relation to ecological and evolutionary theories. It focuses on adaptive traits, which are traits that enhance the ability to reproduce and survive.

What are three reasons to study behavioural ecology?

Three reasons to study behavioural ecology are: 1) Improve use of animals and plants for crop survival, hunting, domestication, and pest control. 2) Promote animal wellbeing and ecological conservation. 3) Better understand humans.

What is NOT a characteristic of behavioural ecology?

Behavioural ecology is not only about humans, it is also about other organisms. It is not biologically deterministic, as it takes into account ecological and evolutionary theories. It is also not solely focused on behavioural genetics.

What are two key factors that contributed to the development of behavioural ecology?

Two key factors that contributed to the development of behavioural ecology are: 1) Ethology, which is the study of behaviour under natural conditions, led by researchers like Niko Tinbergen, Konrad Lorenz, and Karl von Frisch. 2) Evolutionary biology and the concept of natural selection, which explains how organisms and their traits evolve.

What is the main focus of the adaptionist perspective in behavioural ecology?

The main focus of the adaptionist perspective in behavioural ecology is to understand and study adaptive traits, which are traits that enhance the ability to reproduce and survive.

Study Notes

Definition and Focus of Behavioural Ecology

Behavioural ecology is a research program that aims to understand the evolution of animal behaviour in ecological and evolutionary contexts.
The primary focus is on adaptive traits, which are characteristics that have evolved to solve specific ecological problems or enhance fitness.

Reasons to Study Behavioural Ecology

To understand the evolution of animal behaviour and its role in shaping ecological interactions.
To inform conservation efforts by understanding the behavioural adaptations of species in changing environments.
To develop insights into the evolution of human behaviour and its impact on the environment.

What is NOT a characteristic of Behavioural Ecology?

It is NOT a purely descriptive science, but rather a hypothesis-driven approach that aims to test adaptive explanations for behaviour.

Key Factors in the Development of Behavioural Ecology

The development of evolutionary theory, particularly the modern synthesis, which provided a framework for understanding adaptation.
Advances in observational and experimental techniques, such as radio-tracking and DNA fingerprinting, which enabled researchers to collect detailed data on animal behaviour.

The Adaptionist Perspective in Behavioural Ecology

The main focus is on understanding the adaptive value of behavioural traits in terms of their impact on an individual's fitness, or their ability to survive and reproduce.