Question

Mitchell MD, Chivers DP, Brown GE, Ferrari MCO. 2016. Living on the edge: How does environmental risk affect the behavioural and cognitive ecology of prey? Anim Behav. 115: 185-192. Greig EI and Webster MS. 2014. How do novel signals originate? The evolution of fairy-wren songs from predator to display contexts. Anim Behav. 88: 57-65. Petrů M, Špinka M, Charvátová V, Lhota S. 2009. Revisiting play elements and self-handicapping in play: A comparative ethogram of five Old World monkey species. J Comp Psychol. 123(3): 250-263.

1. What two studies examined proximate causes of behaviour? What evidence do the authors provide to support your answer?

2. What two studies examined ultimate causes of behaviour? What evidence do the authors provide to support your answer?

3. Which of the above (1 only) studies examines the evolution of a behaviour? What evidence do the authors provide to support your answer?

Answer 1

1. The study titled "Living on the edge: How does environmental risk affect the behavioral and cognitive ecology of prey?" discusses about the proximate behavior of the prey.

The evidence for this is found in the behavior of prey in the aquatic system when they detect the predators using the chemicals they release.

2. The study titled " How do novel signals originate? The evolution of fairy-wren songs from predators to display context" tells about the ultimate causes of the behavior.

The evidence of this is seen when the behavioral changes of the birds are observed during the mating, foraging and migration period.

3. The study titles "Revisiting play elements and self-handicapping in play: A comparative ethogram of five Old World monkey species" studied about the evolution of a behavior.

The evidence can be seen when the five species of the monkeys studied showed different behavior and patterns when placed in different situations and positions.