Animal Behavior: Survival Strategies Cost-Benefit Analysis – Behaviors have costs and benefits. What are the costs of the behavior shown? What are the benefits of this behavior?

Cost Benefit Analysis If the cost is HIGHER than the benefit the behavior will NOT be found in a population. If the benefit is HIGHER than the cost this is the behavior observed in a population Example: MOBBING BEHAVIOR = prey animals attack a predator as a group by screaming, kicking/throwing sand, diving and if birdsflapping their wings.*

Meerkat mobbing snake What was the cost of mobbing for the meerkats? What was the benefit of mobbing for the meerkats? Which is greater the cost or the benefit? How do you know?

One Meerkat and Snake If one meerkat comes across a snake, how should it behave? Why?

Black headed gull Live in large dense group and build their nests on the ground.

Black Headed Gull A potential predator can easily attack the nest and eat eggs and young (and adults). Will MOBBING BEHAVIOR be found in this population? Why or why not? What are the costs? The benefits?

Kittiwakes Live in large dense groups. They nest on the edge of cliffs. Their nests are very difficult for predators to reach.

Kittiwakes A potential predator, (which is rare) eats eggs and young (and adults). Will MOBBING BEHAVIOR be found in this population? Why or why not? What are the costs? The benefits?

California Ground Squirrels Live in large dense groups. Make burrows (holes in ground) for nests.

California Ground Squirrel A potential predator eats young (and adults). Will MOBBING BEHAVIOR be found in this population? Why or why not? What are the costs? The benefits

Animal Behavior Convergent behavior = similarities in behaviors between two different species. Divergent behavior = differences in behaviors between two closely related species.

Survival Strategies Do any of these populations show convergent behaviors? Do any of these populations show divergent behaviors?

Dilution Effect Large groups of animals “dilute” or weaken the chance of any one animal being attacked*.

Insects in action* Cicadas* Remain underground for 17 years. They all emerge at the same time. What is the cost of emerging at the same time? What is the benefit?

Survival Strategies Camouflage Leaf insect - The female has large leathery forewings that resemble the midrib and veins in a leaf. Females are flightless and so the hindwings have no function.

Camouflage Walking sticks*

Camouflage

Camouflage

Camouflage

Conspicuous Markings Red Eft when living on land – Toxic What are the costs & benefits to this color?

Conspicious Markings? Newt (adult red eft!) when living in the water. Toxicity?

Conspicuous Markings Monarch butterfly – Toxic!

Conspicuous Markings Viceroy butterfly. Toxic?

Monarch and Viceroy The viceroy mimics the coloration and patterns of the monarch butterfly. However, the viceroy butterfly is NOT toxic!

Other Regal Horned Lizard* Puffer Fish*