behavioural & reproductive adaptations

Behavioural & Reproductive Adaptations

Finding ways to survive

Strange Behaviours

• Have you ever heard the sound of a camera or the sound of an engine but nothing like it is nearby?

• What’s happening?

• Could it be the Lyre Bird?

Strange Behaviours

• What do you know about the lyre bird?

• VIDEOS

Strange Behaviours

• What is it doing?

• Why is it doing it?

Strange Behaviours

• Most impressive sound = Most impressive male

• Most impressive tail = Most impressive male

• Females go crazy for loud and flamboyant males.

Strange Behaviours

• These are called behavioural adaptations

• Behaviours that improve the fitness of individuals are referred to as having high adaptive value

• They improve the individuals chance of surviving and increase the chance of reproducing viable offspring.

Reproductive Adaptations

• VIDEO• Lizard species on the island of Ibiza

Strange Behaviours

• Behaviour is developed through an interaction between the individual and the environment, their physiology and other living things.

• In the case of the lyre bird what physical and behavioural aspects lead to its unique behaviour?

Reproductive Behaviour

• Finding the right mate, reproducing and raising young are all reproductive behaviours

• Survival depends on producing viable offspring and animals have developed a diverse range of strategies to do so.


• Reproductive adaptations can be a combination of physical and behavioural features.

Reproductive Adaptations

• Many organisms must find a mate to reproduce.

• They do this via a process called courtship

Reproductive Behaviours

• Courtship involves one sex of a species (usually male) proving to the other (usually female) that they are fit to mate with.

• This generally ensures that a fit male is chosen by the female.

• Strategies for finding a mate can vary


• Group living – means mates are close by but it can be very competitive.

• VIDEO


• Elephant seals live in groups where one male has control over a harem of females.

• Only the strongest and biggest (fittest) males can gain control

• Other males can compete for control of the harem.


• In contrast male mandrills live a very solitary life. [Bachelors]

• They avoid family life and only come in contact with females when it is time to mate.


• The female Siberian dwarf hamster uses a different approach. In order to ensure her genes get passed on she is pregnant all the time.


• Gives birth in a burrow

• Just before it gives birth it excretes a pungent scent around the outside of the burrow

• Why might it do this??

To attract more males to mate with


• Why go to all this trouble??

• Why would a female choose a male that shows off so much??


• In the case of the peacock it is informing the female that: - I have good genes

- I have valuable resources - I am extremely ‘fit’

• A lot of energy is invested by males into finding a mate.


• Females invest more energy into caring for their offspring (generally)

• Therefore they need to find a male that will improve their chances of producing viable offspring.


• Other displays include plumage, dances, loud noises, battles etc…

• Examples…


• As a result from mating you get… OFFSPRING

• Who takes on the role of parent?

• Different species have different approaches


• Some species look after their young.• PARENTAL CARE

• This requires many resources such as food, shelter, protection, warmth.

• It also poses a lot of danger for parents.


• This can be a beneficial approach as the offspring are more likely to survive.

• The offspring are also more likely to survive to sexual maturity as they will pick up behaviours from their parents

• Learnt Behaviours (generally mammals & birds)


• Parenting video


• Some species have NO input into the care of their offspring.

• Can you think of an example?


• FROGS

• Produce many offspring hoping this will improve the chance that some will survive to reproduce and carry on their genes.

Life Cycles

• Video

Group Living

• As seen with the penguins cooperation between mother and father is needed to raise the young

• Sometimes a whole population can get involved.

Group living

• Meerkat cooperation

Group Living

• Many social behaviours can be observed when watching species like the meerkat.

• What social behaviours did you observe in the video?

Group living

• Look outs (standing guard) SENTRY

• Foraging

• Warnings

• Protecting/looking after young

Group living

• A lot of individual sacrifice is involved in group living.

• However the benefits to the group and survival of the young far outweigh the individual costs.

Group living

• Cooperation is not only for protecting each other.

• It is critical for some species in hunting.

• Video

Group living

• For effective cooperation effective communication is required

• Video

Group living

• Communication through dance tells other bees where more pollen can be found.

• Within this kind of community you have signallers and signal receivers.

Group living

• Signallers: Their actions or cues induce behavioural change in other individuals

• These individuals that interpret the signals and then take action are the signal receivers

Group living

• The types of signals can vary

• Visual• Acoustic• Chemical

behavioural & reproductive adaptations

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