STUDENT RESPONSES TO CLASS EXERCISE 8/31/01: LIST POSSIBLE PROXIMATE AND ULTIMATE CAUSES FOR THE FOLLOWING BEHAVIOR: Scenario 1: When a new coalition of male lions joins a pride of females, the males often kill the young that are with the females. Proximate: Scent of other males on the cubs Females in heat Overcrowding Increase in androgens Food source Young are not his (how does he know?) These were given as proximate, but they seem to me to be ultimate: Establish dominance Eliminate competition Territorial behavior Eliminate weak Control population for the good of the group (increase food resources) Ultimate: Establish their own genes Bring females into heat Reduce competition for food Control population size Frees females to hunt for pride Scenario 2: When moths in Costa Rica are startled, they lift their forewings and expose hindwings that have bright “eye spots” Proximate: Predation stimuli caused moths to open wings; being startled Flight preparation response Open wings in response to draft/current of air Reaction to being touched or hit Distance predator is away affects whether or not moth exposes hindwing Breeding season—more active? These were given as proximate, but they seem to me to be ultimate: Makes moth look bigger Natural instinct (I'm not sure exactly what this means—WHY is this an instinct?) Moths that lifted forewings were more reproductively sucessful Reproductive success Open wings to camouflage into environment Scares away predator Ultimate: Evolution of eye spot conferred selective advantage. Imitation of another animal had selective advantage Eyespot indicates "poison" to predator Eyespot makes moth seem like a larger organism led to predator leaving moth alone. Warning signal to other moths Scenario 3: Humans eat lots of candy and soft drinks. Proximate: Hungry Convenience, abundance in society Taste; flavor appeals to human taste buds Social presure in early development drives humans to consume sweets. Advertisinig Stress Price—inexpensive Curiosity—tryt it for the first time Stimulates a desired physical reaction in the body Need caffeine to avoid aches and pains These were given as proximate, but they seem to me to be ultimate: Social pressure among peers Readily available in the environment These were given as ultimate, but they seem to me to be proximate: Taste—enjoy the taste Quick—good for a fast snack Consume these because they are the most appealiing Ultimate: Performance enhancers. Complex carbohydrates give workers more energy. Early humans consumed fruits, which contained sugar and other nutrients; later turned to preprocessed candy. Culture (tradition) Genetic flaws, obesity, diabetes, etc. Impress opposite sex Sugar results in higher reproductive rates (evidence??) Sugar keeps brain alive. Scenario 4: Lemmings are small mouselike rodents that live in the Arctic. At high population densities, large numbers leave their homes and travel long distances. Some die by drowning at they attempt to swim across lakes and rivers. Proximate: Lack of food Not enough suitable housing or dens Resources exhausted High predation More disease in large populations, so they could leave because they were affected When they cross rivers, they have such a large population, they drown each other Season or temperature change They migrate to other places to breed and return Dominant individuals chased subordinates out of territory. Find mates These were given as ultimate, but they seem to me to be proximate: Natural migration pattern in response to temperature, environment Lemmings who leave have learned to leave to avoid predators (how are learned behaviors ultimate (evolutionary) causes?) Ultimate: Increase species range, leading to speciation To gain individual's own territory Inherited bad genes—can't swim Allows for greater spread of population, greater population growth An instinctive natural migration (this does not really tell the ultimate reason for the instinct). Individuals migrating would not be caught by predators, which are attracted to large groups of lemmings To avoid predation To get ore food Leaving in groups increases the survival rate when preyed upon. Sodium is required in the diet (? I don't understand this one) THESE ARE EXPLANATIONS THAT RELY ON GROUP SELECTION. IS IT LIKELY THAT THIS WOULD EVOLVE, OR WOULD CHEATERS HAVE HIGHER FITNESS?? It is the way they control their populations—when leaving, the weak ones will drown and the remaining are better breeders. Group movement allows for greater changes of some succeeding.