Animal Behavior

Suppose you are a graduate student working on field research in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, studying a newly discovered apparently altruistic behavior seen in female African lions. It has been observed that female lions sometimes leave their pride group, on their own, to patrol their pride’s territory. If a neighbor lion from another pride is found, they will alert their pride-mates by roaring. Given what is currently known about lions and the basis of their social behavior, answer the following questions: 3A. (6 points) What is the definition of altruism and why does this behavior fit this definition? Be specific, including information on what you learned about lions in class. (2-4 sentences) 3B. (4 points) Kin selection is one hypothesis for the evolution of altruistic behavior. Applying Hamilton’s Rule, determine when this patrolling behavior would be advantageous, if the benefit (b) = 1.3 and the cost (c) = 0.39. Show a simple calculation and provide a short explanation. 3C. (4 points) Does your answer for 3B suggest that kin selection could explain this behavior in lions? Explain. Consider what you know of the structure and biology of a lion pride from class material. (3-4 sentences) 3D. (8 points) Reciprocal altruism is another explanation for the evolution of altruism. What is reciprocal altruism and could this apply in this case for lions? Apply what you’ve learned in class about reciprocal altruism and lion behavior, and again use the values benefit (b) = 1.3 and cost (c) = 0.39. Consider the general context needed for reciprocal altruism to function and apply this to a lion pride. The GameBug simulator (https://nbb.emory.edu/wyttenbach/gamebug/gbgmanual.html) we used in class may be helpful here but is not required. (4-8 sentences) 3E. (8 points) Group selection is yet another explanation for the evolution of altruism. What is group selection and could this apply in this case for lions? Apply what you’ve learned in class about group selection and lion behavior, and again use the values benefit (b) = 1.3 and cost (c) = 0.39. Consider the general context needed for group selection to function and apply this to a lion pride. The GameBug simulator we used in class may be helpful here but is not required. (4-8 sentences)