Академический Документы
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John Alcock
Videos
6.6 and 6.7 Group Defense of the Nest by the Vespid Wasp Polybia occidentalis
In the first video (credited to Teresa Léon), a nest is sharply disturbed with dramatic
results. This is a wasp in which the venom contains an alarm pheromone. Students could
be asked to discuss what sort of evidence the film provides about the existence of an
alarm pheromone in this species and how it might be used by the wasps, which have
potent stings.
In the second video (credited to Robert L. Jeanne), a single wasp is bathed in human
breath directed to it via a straw, which appears briefly in the video. Here too a question
for the class could be posed: how might the disturbance of a single wasp result in the
mobilization of a large part of the colony whose coordinated activity when alarmed
constitutes a powerful warning and deterrent to mammalian predators.
(Courtesy of Robert Jeanne.)
9.2–9.8 The Possible History of Insect Flight as Illustrated by How Different Species of
Stoneflies Use Their Wings
Another evolutionary puzzle discussed at length in the text. You can get more
information about these insects and the videos by going to the following website:
http://www.bio.psu.edu/People/Faculty/Marden/movielinks.html
(Courtesy of Jim Marden.)
Finally, a fourth video shows bower destruction. In this clip, we see a male totally
dismantling the bower of a neighboring rival. What is the fitness cost of this behavior to
the destructive male? What are the possible fitness benefits to the bower destroyer both in
terms of male–male competition and female mate choice?
(Courtesy of Gerald Borgia and Jason Kenagy.)
10.5 Male Vogelkop Gardener Bowerbird Working at His Bower in Irian Jaya
This BBC video shows a member of the group of maypole bowerbirds that builds far
more elaborate bowers than the satin bowerbird and other avenue bowerbuilders.
( BBC Motion Gallery.)