Behavioural & Reproductive Adaptations

1. Behavioural & Reproductive Adaptations Finding ways to survive

2. Strange Behaviours • Have you ever heard the sound of a camera or the sound of an engine but nothing like it is nearby? • What’s happening? • Could it be the Lyre Bird?

3. Strange Behaviours • What do you know about the lyre bird? • VIDEOS

4. Strange Behaviours • What is it doing? • Why is it doing it?

5. Strange Behaviours • Most impressive sound = Most impressive male • Most impressive tail = Most impressive male • Females go crazy for loud and flamboyant males.

6. Strange Behaviours • These are called behavioural adaptations • Behaviours that improve the fitness of individuals are referred to as having high adaptive value • They improve the individuals chance of surviving and increase the chance of reproducing viable offspring.

7. Reproductive Adaptations • VIDEO • Lizard species on the island of Ibiza

8. Strange Behaviours • Behaviour is developed through an interaction between the individual and the environment, their physiology and other living things. • In the case of the lyre bird what physical and behavioural aspects lead to its unique behaviour?

9. Reproductive Behaviour • Finding the right mate, reproducing and raising young are all reproductive behaviours • Survival depends on producing viable offspring and animals have developed a diverse range of strategies to do so.

10. Reproductive Behaviour • Reproductive adaptations can be a combination of physical and behavioural features.

11. Reproductive Adaptations • Many organisms must find a mate to reproduce. • They do this via a process called courtship

12. Reproductive Behaviours • Courtship involves one sex of a species (usually male) proving to the other (usually female) that they are fit to mate with. • This generally ensures that a fit male is chosen by the female. • Strategies for finding a mate can vary

13. Reproductive Behaviours • Group living – means mates are close by but it can be very competitive. • VIDEO

14. Reproductive Behaviours • Elephant seals live in groups where one male has control over a harem of females. • Only the strongest and biggest (fittest) males can gain control • Other males can compete for control of the harem.

15. Reproductive Behaviours • In contrast male mandrills live a very solitary life. [Bachelors] • They avoid family life and only come in contact with females when it is time to mate.

16. Reproductive Behaviours • The female Siberian dwarf hamster uses a different approach. In order to ensure her genes get passed on she is pregnant all the time.

17. Reproductive Behaviours • Gives birth in a burrow • Just before it gives birth it excretes a pungent scent around the outside of the burrow • Why might it do this?? To attract more males to mate with

18. Reproductive Behaviours • Why go to all this trouble?? • Why would a female choose a male that shows off so much??

19. Reproductive Behaviours • In the case of the peacock it is informing the female that: - I have good genes - I have valuable resources - I am extremely ‘fit’ • A lot of energy is invested by males into finding a mate.

20. Reproductive Behaviour • Females invest more energy into caring for their offspring (generally) • Therefore they need to find a male that will improve their chances of producing viable offspring.

21. Reproductive Behaviour • Other displays include plumage, dances, loud noises, battles etc… • Examples…

22. Reproductive Behaviours • As a result from mating you get… OFFSPRING • Who takes on the role of parent? • Different species have different approaches

23. Reproductive Behaviour • Some species look after their young. • PARENTAL CARE • This requires many resources such as food, shelter, protection, warmth. • It also poses a lot of danger for parents.

24. Reproductive Behaviour

25. Reproductive Behaviour • This can be a beneficial approach as the offspring are more likely to survive. • The offspring are also more likely to survive to sexual maturity as they will pick up behaviours from their parents • Learnt Behaviours (generally mammals & birds)

26. Reproductive Behaviour • Parenting video

27. Reproductive Behaviour • Some species have NO input into the care of their offspring. • Can you think of an example?

28. Reproductive Behaviours • FROGS • Produce many offspring hoping this will improve the chance that some will survive to reproduce and carry on their genes.

29. Reproductive Behaviours

30. Life Cycles • Video

31. Group Living • As seen with the penguins cooperation between mother and father is needed to raise the young • Sometimes a whole population can get involved.

32. Group living • Meerkat cooperation

33. Group Living • Many social behaviours can be observed when watching species like the meerkat. • What social behaviours did you observe in the video?

34. Group living • Look outs (standing guard) SENTRY • Foraging • Warnings • Protecting/looking after young

35. Group living • A lot of individual sacrifice is involved in group living. • However the benefits to the group and survival of the young far outweigh the individual costs.

36. Group living • Cooperation is not only for protecting each other. • It is critical for some species in hunting. • Video

37. Group living • For effective cooperation effective communication is required • Video

38. Group living • Communication through dance tells other bees where more pollen can be found. • Within this kind of community you have signallersandsignal receivers.

39. Group living • Signallers: Their actions or cues induce behavioural change in other individuals • These individuals that interpret the signals and then take action are the signal receivers

40. Group living • The types of signals can vary • Visual • Acoustic • Chemical