Ethology, foraging theory, ESS, mating systems, kin selection, biogeography.
Behavior And Behavioral Ecology
Optimal foraging theory
Behaviour maximising energy intake per unit time. MacArthur-Pianka 1966: choose prey by profitability ranking; marginal-value theorem…
Evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS)
Maynard Smith 1973: strategy that, once adopted by population, cannot be invaded by any rare alternative. Hawk-dove model, iterated…
Reciprocal altruism
Trivers 1971: altruistic behaviour evolves when recipients reciprocate, provided benefit > cost × discount factor. Tit-for-tat in iterated…
Mating system
Distribution of matings in a population: monogamy (social vs genetic), polygyny, polyandry, promiscuity. Shaped by operational sex ratio,…
Biogeography
Distribution of species in space + time. Wallace's line, island biogeography theory (MacArthur-Wilson 1967: equilibrium between immigration…
Inclusive fitness
Total reproductive success = direct (own offspring) + indirect (offspring of relatives, weighted by r). Unifies individual and kin…
Parent-offspring conflict
Trivers 1974: asymmetric relatedness (parent r=0.5 to each offspring; offspring r=1 to self) creates evolutionary tension over investment.…
Handicap principle
Zahavi 1975: costly signals are honest because only high-quality individuals can afford them. Explains peacock tail, stotting gazelles.…
Animal conflict game theory
Hawk-Dove game, payoff matrices, ESS proofs. Maynard Smith & Price 1973 brought economic game theory into ethology. Explains ritualised…
Tinbergen's four questions
Mechanism, ontogeny, function, phylogeny — the four complementary levels of behavioural explanation. Tinbergen 1963 organising framework…