proximate and ultimate causes of animal behaviour
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Proximate and Ultimate Causes of Animal Behaviour. The beewolf wasp ( Philanthus triangulum ). Beewolf wasp burrows. Niko Tinbergen: one of the founders of ethology. The Scientific Method. Observation and causal question H ypothesis P redictions Test of predictions Conclusion. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Proximate and Ultimate Causes of Animal Behaviour
The beewolf wasp(Philanthus triangulum)
Beewolf wasp burrows
Niko Tinbergen: one of the founders of ethology
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The Scientific Method
• Observation and causal question
• Hypothesis
• Predictions
• Test of predictions
• Conclusion
The Scientific Method• Observation and causal question: Beewolves find
the entrance to their own nests. How do they do it?
• Hypothesis: They use local landmarks as cues
• Predictions: If they use local landmarks then
manipulating those landmarks should mislead them
• Test of predictions: Experiments
• Conclusion: Yes, local landmarks are used by
beewolves as cues in finding own nest
Black-headed gull
… and its chicks
The Scientific Method• Observation and causal question - black headed gulls
remove eggshells. Why did black headed gulls evolve
behaviour of eggshell removal?
• Hypothesis - maybe this behaviour helps parent gulls to
conceal their offspring from predators
• Predictions - if so, broken eggshells should help predators
find food
• Test of predictions - experiment
• Conclusion - yes, eggshell removal
appears to help parent gulls conceal
offspring from predators
Proximate causes Ultimate causesof behavour
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Oystercatcher
Black-headed gull
Kittiwake
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OystercatcherSolitary nestingNest predatorsImmediate eggshell removal
Black-headed gullGroup nestingNest predation presentDelayed eggshell removal
KittiwakeGroup nestingNo nest predatorsNo eggshell removal
Why do
babies cry???