Behavioral Ecology

Behavioral Ecology
Organismal ecology is the study of
how morphological, physiological,
and behavioral adaptations enable
individual organisms to live in their
physical and biological environments.

Behavioral Ecology focuses on a

subset of organismal ecology
behavioral adaptations that have evolved
in response to ecological selection
pressures.

Behavioral Ecology is an integrative

field of study.
Molecules to Ecosystems
 Causation
Proximate
• Explains HOW actions occur
in terms of genetic,
neurological, hormonal, and
skeletal-muscular
mechanisms involved.

Ultimate
• Explains WHY actions occur
– based on evolutionary
consequences
• Behavior is a phenotypic
trait that can evolve by
natural selection
Types of Behavior

Fixed Action Pattern Choices and Trade-Offs

Key Behavior
Concepts
Choices are not usually conscious.
• Nonhuman animals are not self-
aware of choices or decisions they
make.
• Instead, natural selection favors
behaviors that increase survival
and reproduction.
Behavior of individuals varies in a
population
• Like any other heritable trait,
behavioral traits are heritable and
vary in a population.
Optimal Foraging
• Animals maximize their feeding
efficiency
• Maximize Benefits
• Minimize Costs
• Fitness is proportional to feeding
efficiency
• Natural selection favors those who
forage efficiently
• Caveat – there is no truly “optimal”
behavior
Cooperation with Others
A Darwinian Puzzle
Altruistic Behavior
Fitness cost to the actor, fitness benefit to the
receiver

Kin Selection
• Natural selection that acts
through benefits to relatives at
the expense of the individual.
• Inclusive fitness: combined
direct (self) and indirect
(relatives) fitness

Hamilton’s Rule C < Br

 In order for the altruistic behavior to
Hamilton’s Rule C < Br evolve …

Coefficient of Relatedness The cost to the actor (C) must be less

Self 1.0 than the benefit to the recipient x the
Sibling 0.5 coefficient of relatedness.
Parents 0.5
Son/Daughter 0.5
Niece/Nephew 0.25
Uncle/Aunt 0.25
Grandparents 0.25
First Cousin 0.125
Reciprocal Altruism

Altruistic behavior when

the actors are not related
(no kin selection)
Remember …
Individuals do not act
for the good of the
species!