The Hunting Handicap Compat

Slide 1: Sociobiology, Evolutionary Psychology, and Behavioral Ecology By: Bird, Smith, & Bird Presentation by Ashlee D

Slide 2: Op t i ma l F o r a g i n g Th e o r y ( OF T) Foragers (human and not) will choose foods that offer the maximal energy return for the minimal energy investment. (415) -The article intends to explain instances in which OFT don’t work and provide an ulterior explanation.

Slide 3: Th e Qu e s t i o n : Why do some Meriam hunters choose to go after prey that is low in nutritional return and is also hard to get?

Slide 4: Co s t l y S i g n a l i n g Th e o r y ( CS T) “Serves as an honest signal” (416) Proposes that communication between individuals with conflicting interests can be evolutionarily stable if the signal honestly advertises an underlying quality of interest to observers.

Slide 5: Cr i t e r i a f o r h u n t s t o me e t CS T Differentially costly or beneficial in ways that are Honestly linked to signaler quality Designed to effectively broadcast the signal to the intended audience (i.e: potential allies, mates, and competitors)

Slide 6: Spe a r - f i s hi ng Men forgo shellfish collecting to spear-fish Though shellfish collecting would maximize energy in, while minimizing energy out. Searching for fish (to spear) takes a lot of time and energy and has little energy return.

Slide 7: W y? h Spe a r - f i s hi ng c ont i nue d They are maximizing other nutrients o BUT protein and fat is higher in shellfish Other benefits (unrelated to consumption) such as good trade item o But, shellfish produces larger harvest and is more likely to be shared Provides greater consumption benefits long run o kfsdjm

Slide 8: Tu r t l e s ! Collecting VS Hunting

Slide 9: Tu r t l e h u n t i n g ma y i nvol ve : “High opportunity costs in the form of passing over opportunities to acquire other resources with higher rate of return. Low consumption return rates because the hunters distribute to non-hunters High energetic, monetary, or time investment costs of preparing for and conducting the hunt that reduce energetic return rates below that of more easily acquired resources” (423)

Slide 10: Th e ( h o n e s t ) s i g n a l s g i Spear-fishing v e n: o Hand-eye coordination o Stealth o Patience Turtle hunting o Strength, stamina, risk taking o Cognitive skills o Leadership o Generosity

Slide 11: S o me p r o b l e ms : Where are the interviews with the people? Phenotypic traits Ideas/explanations that couldn’t be tested or were not tested/completed at time of publication

Slide 12: Food f or t houg ht