Week 11 Post 1

Animal Behavior: Parental Care

• Humans require care as babies, while some animals don't need any at all
• Other species are in between
• Parental care:
• Any activity by a parent that enhances the survival of its offspring
• Different species give different kinds and amounts of care
• Examples: incubating eggs, feeding, protection from predators, and transporting offspring from place to place
• Parents can teach offspring skills
• Some species produce large numbers of offspring that they don't care for to offset the number that will die
• Some species will not care for the offspring but will protect them from predators before they are born/hatched
• Some species will care for the offspring for months or years
• Not all animals have the energy to produce a lot of offspring and care for them
• Use of either strategy depends on the environment
• Food availability
• Predators
• Hormones
• Prolactin:
• Increases care behavior in birds and mammals
• Individuals may collaborate on care or go solo
• Males are less willing to help if the female mated with other males