QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION IN ANIMAL SOCIAL BEHAVIOR



Evolution of Social Behavior

-What is the unit of selection described by Wynne-Edwards? Hamilton?

-What is altruism?

Testable predictions derived from theory

Cooperative Breeding (Evolution of Helping Behavior)

- Do helpers exist?

- Do helpers enhance breeding success of breeders?

- Do helpers help relatives?

- How is inclusive fitness of helpers affected? (Indirect? Direct?)

Eusociality

-kin selection vs. group selection

Parent-Offspring Conflict

- Under what conditions do the fitness interests of parents and offspring conflict?

- Infanticide: adaptive vs. pathologic

Sex ratio adjustments

-Predictions for high vs low ranking females (Trivers-Willard vs. Local Resource Competition)

Mating strategies

-Intra and intersexual tensions