Biology 2483A Lecture 1: Behavioral Ecology
Document Summary
Animals make behavioural choices that enhance their energy gain and reduce risk of becoming prey. Mating behaviours reflect costs/benefits of parental investment and mate defense. There are advantages and disadvantages to living in groups. In many species, females are pickier in mate selection, but in some species females try to mate with as many males as possible. Role in activities such as obtaining food, finding mates, avoiding predators. Ultimate causes why behaviour occurs; the evolutionary and historical reasons. Behavioural ecologists mostly focus on ultimate causes. Cockroaches exposed to traps with bait containing a glucose evolved glucose aversion, controlled by a single gene. (adaptive behavioural change) Oldfield mice build long entrance tunnels and escape tunnels, an adaptation to living in open habitats. Deer mice construct a simpler burrow, with a short entrance tunnel and no escape tunnel. Can mate and have fertile offspring with 50% making escape tunnels. Not always expressed even when allele is present.
