BIOL 2041

Midterm Review

Biology/Psychology 3750

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Format

• Fill in the blank

• Choice– Short Answer– Long Answer

• Labs, text, notes – all fair game!!!

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Intro and History

• Why study AB?• Niko’s 4 questions• Proximate v. Ultimate• The theory of evolution by natural

selection– Basic tenants

• History of AB– Roots– Compare/contrast

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Approaches and Methods

• Scientific method– Lab – field - natural

• Different approaches to AB– Ethology, behavioural ecology– Pros/cons

• Methods– Elements of study design

• Hypothesis/prediction

– Methods of recording– Marking animals

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Genetics

• Mutations

• Heterozygosity and variation

• Neo-Darwinism– Natural selection leads to a change in gene

frequencies– Adaptations, fitness– Group selection? (remember the lemmings!!)– Kin selection (inclusive fitness)

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Genetics

• Evolution– Mutations (raw material)– Natural selection (main but not exclusive

means)– Gene flow– Genetic drift (Founder effect)

• Null model (Hardy-Weinberg)

• Cautions (Spandrels)

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Behavioural genetics and Evolution of Behaviour

• Techniques for studying genetic basis of behaviour (knock out gene)

• Artificial selection (dogs, domestics)

• Microevolution (foxes, peppered moth, ring species)

• Macroevolution– techniques

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Foraging Behaviour

• Optimal foraging (economics)

• Diet selection or prey/patch models

• Marginal Value Theorm (berry picking)– GUD

• Risk-sensitive foraging (utility – gambling)

• Avoid becoming prey/Find prey

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Optimal foraging

• E1/h1 > E2 /h2

– Find Prey 1, eat Prey 1– Find Prey 2, eat or accept cost of moving on

to find Prey 1?

• E2/ h2 > E1/(S1+h1)

– Eat Prey 2 if Prey 1 is:• A) hard to find (low density)• B) catch (fast/fierce)

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MVT

Patch 1

Patch 2

Patch 3

Travel Time Topt

Energy

Should I stay or should I go? How long to stay?

P2

P3If near another patch, stay in P1 for short time, then P2

-If far away, stay for longer.

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Utility and patch choice

• What patch to choose, dependable or not dependable?

• It depends on the conditions (gain curve)– If satiated, dependable patch– If starving, variable patch

• The dependable patch will not suffice

Satiated Starving

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Development

• FAP v MAP• Epignesis v Ontogenetic niche• Song development• Imprinting

• Migration (just covered)

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Habitat Selection

• Scale

• Limiting factors

• Philopatry

• Theories (IDF, IDD, IDP)

• Territoriality

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• Study Hard

• Focus

• Don’t worry