BIOLOGY 1M03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5.0-5.3: Proximate And Ultimate Causation, Signalling Theory, Dewlap
2 Mar 2017
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Proximate (mechanistic) causation explains how actions occur in terms or neurological, hormonal, and skeletal-muscular mechanisms involved. Ultimate (evolutionary) causation explains why actions occur based on evolution. Highly inflexible, stereotyped behavior patterns like a kangaroo rat"s jump-back are called fixed action patterns (innate behavior) which is inherited. Most behavior is flexible and condition dependent. Individuals behave in terms of change in response to learning and they show flexibility in response to changed environmental conditions. Decisions made by animals are not conscious. It leads to female confusing the male after fertilization = sexual cannibalism. When males search for females, they rely on resources they"ve accumulated in their juvenile period (so they don"t drink or eat) Cannibalized males mate for twice as long and transfer more sperm; they are also more successful in plugging the receptacles of their mates, preventing other males from inserting additional sperm. When animals seek food, they are foraging.
