Final topic for the HL Students!

Essential Biology E6: Further Studies of Behaviour

Animations and Resources:

Inside the Hive (PBS): Colony structure

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Here is an excellent TED Talk from Deborah Gordon, outlining ant colony behaviour and organisation, based on 20 years of research. As no single ant controls the colony, what cues and systems are in place that allow for the emergent colony behaviour? Having watched the talk, can you explain why natural selection would work on the colony level in the case of this eusocial species?

EO Wilson: Lord of the Ants (PBS)

Wow – check out this excavation of a giant ant hill:

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Altruism

Hank Green’s quick explainer on SciShow:

Baba Brinkman’s Rap Guide to Evolution addresses kin and reciprocal selection in the second half of this entertaining TED Talk (some strong language):

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Mate Selection

Check out how these male jumping spiders attract their females!

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Rhythmical Behaviours

Turtles rely on lunar cycles for nesting:

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Seasonal cycles can be affected by climate change:

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Circadian rhythms are daily cycles:

Tutorial from WHFreeman

Hamsters will self-select optimal light conditions

Sleep/ wake patterns are genetic in basis:

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Colony collapse Disorder (non-syllabus)

Readers:

“No one villian behind honey-bee colony collapse” from Science News

– Wikipedia page: CCD

– What causes CCD? from Bayer CropScience

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Video: Collapse of the Honeybee, by Rowan Jacobsen