Behavioral Adaptations of Juncos

Mr. Nolan discusses the boldness of UCSD birds compared to their mountain counterparts, exploring why these differences exist despite shared ancestry. The video explains the role of alleles and cort levels in bird behavior, using models and flowcharts to illustrate these concepts. It highlights the impact of mutations and environmental changes on the evolution of bird behavior, drawing parallels to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The video concludes with a summary of key concepts, emphasizing the importance of genetic variations and environmental factors in shaping behavior.

What is the main question addressed in the video regarding UCSD and mountain juncos?

• Why UCSD juncos migrate more than mountain juncos.

• Why UCSD juncos sing differently than mountain juncos.

• Why UCSD juncos are bolder than mountain juncos.

• Why UCSD juncos are more colorful than mountain juncos.

What is the role of corticosterone in juncos' behavior?

• It affects their boldness.

• It increases their singing ability.

• It makes juncos more colorful.

• It changes their migration patterns.

What are alleles?

• Different versions of a gene.

• Different species of birds.

• Different bird songs.

• Different types of feathers.

How does the flowchart model help in understanding juncos' behavior?

• It shows the migration patterns of juncos.

• It explains the diet of juncos.

• It illustrates the relationship between alleles, corticosterone levels, and behavior.

• It describes the nesting habits of juncos.

What is the significance of the low corticosterone allele in juncos?

• It makes juncos more aggressive.

• It causes juncos to migrate more.

• It changes their feather color.

• It results in bolder behavior.

What is the initial condition of mountain juncos in the population model?

• They are aggressive with low corticosterone levels.

• They are colorful with high corticosterone levels.

• They are not bold with high corticosterone levels.

• They are bold with low corticosterone levels.

Why is the presence of a mutant allele important in the evolution of juncos?

• It prevents any change in the population.

• It causes juncos to become extinct.

• It makes all juncos identical.

• It allows for variation and potential adaptation.

What happens to high anxiety mountain juncos when they migrate to UCSD?

• They sing more frequently.

• They struggle to survive and may leave or die.

• They become more colorful.

• They thrive and reproduce successfully.

How does the environment at UCSD affect the juncos?

• It makes them more aggressive.

• It changes their feather color.

• It favors bolder juncos with low corticosterone levels.

• It causes them to migrate back to the mountains.

What is the key concept in understanding the evolution of juncos?

• The change in their migration patterns.

• The change in their diet.

• The change in allele frequencies over time.

• The change in their singing ability.