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Lizard Pushups: Summary
Let's summarize what's been covered:
- Questions about behavior can be divided into four main types:
- "How" questions about proximate
causes:
- What is the mechanism of behavior?
- How does the behavior develop?
- "Why" questions about ultimate
causes:
- What is the function of the
behavior?
- How did the behavior evolve?
- Behavior must be recorded carefully and objectively to avoid "observer
bias"
- Decisions must be made about how to "code" behavior before
data can be taken.
- Both male and female lizards of many species establish and defend
territories.
- Territories may be useful for food, shelter, mates, or other purposes.
- Territory holders are often more aggressive toward strange intruders
than toward known neighbors -- the "dear enemy" phenomenon.
- Lizard "pushups" or head-bobs function as a signal between
individuals, usually in a competitive or territorial context. Ritualized
displays are thought to evolve as a means of evaluating opponents without
incurring the costs of actual combat.
END of Lizard Pushups Module
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