ZOO4513/Topic 17: Conflict Behaviors (Exam 3)

Term
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aggression
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Terms in this set (20)
aggression
defined as a behavior that is intended to inflict noxious stimulation or destruction on another organism (can be interspecific or intraspecific)
testosterone
a steroid linked to the prenatal and postnatal development of the male gender and physique, which in turn has been linked on average to more physical aggression in many species
Challenge Hypothesis
• an hypothesis that outlines the dynamic relationship between plasma testosterone levels and aggression in mating contexts in many species
• proposes that testosterone is linked to aggression when it is beneficial for reproduction and preventing encroachment of intrasexual rivals
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
the most abundant circulating androgen hormone and can be rapidly metabolized into potent androgens and estrogens
glucocorticoid
hormones that regulate behavior by affecting development of aggression and establishment of social hierarchies (corticosterone linked to aggression)
agonistic behavior
• any social behavior related to fighting
• broader than aggressive behavior because it includes aggression plus threats, displays, retreats, placating aggressors and conciliation
• ONLY applied to intraspecific aggression (only same species & conspecifics)
the 3 agonistic behaviors
• threat behavior
• agonistic fighting
• submissive behavior
threat behavior
any behavior that signifies hostility or intent to attack another animal
agonistic fighting
a form of aggression that escalates from an indecisive threat display
submissive behavior
a behavior that involves an individual indicating by an act or posture that it will not challenge a dominant individual in a social group
dominance hierarchythe organization of individuals in a group that occurs when competition for resources leads to aggressiondominancethe ability of one animal to assert itself over others in acquiring access to limited resourcessubordinate/submissivethe term for an animal that will be dominated by another animalhome rangean area in which an animal carries out most of its normal activitiescore areawithin the home range, a central area where the animal spends most of its timeterritoryrefers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecificsterritorialanimals that defend territories are said to be _______resource abundancea variable that helps determine the relative value of defending a resource by favoring resources that are moderately abundant (useless to defend if the resource is very abundant)resource distributiona variable that helps determine the relative value of defending a resource by favoring a resource that is moderately aggregated in its distribution (spread out too far, too costly to defend)intruder pressurea variable that helps determine the relative value of defending a resource by determining the number of individuals willing to compete for the resource (greater the number, the greater the cost to defend)