Altricial development

Definition

Altricial development refers to a mode of growth in which offspring are born in an underdeveloped state, requiring significant parental care and nurturing for survival. This form of development is characterized by features such as being born blind, hairless, and helpless, with the parents providing essential resources such as food, warmth, and protection. This reliance on caregivers plays a crucial role in shaping social interactions and competition among siblings as they grow and develop.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In altricial species, offspring often require weeks or months of parental care before they can fend for themselves, highlighting the dependency on their caregivers.
2. Examples of altricial animals include many birds, mammals like dogs and cats, and some rodents, all of which exhibit significant growth during the postnatal period.
3. The extended period of dependency allows for important learning experiences where young animals acquire skills necessary for survival from their parents or other adults.
4. Altricial development can lead to increased sibling rivalry as siblings compete for limited parental resources such as food and attention during their early growth stages.
5. In some cases, altricial development may influence social structures within species, fostering stronger bonds among siblings but also escalating competition as they mature.

Review Questions

• How does altricial development impact sibling dynamics in terms of competition for parental resources?
  • Altricial development creates a scenario where siblings are heavily reliant on parental care for their growth and survival. This reliance leads to increased sibling rivalry as they compete for limited resources such as food and attention. As the siblings grow up together, this competition can shape their interactions, with some siblings potentially receiving more care or resources than others, influencing their future social relationships.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of altricial development compared to precocial development in terms of survival rates.
  • Altricial development has the advantage of allowing offspring to receive extensive parental care and learning opportunities that can enhance survival skills. However, it also has disadvantages, such as higher vulnerability during the early stages due to dependence on parents. In contrast, precocial offspring may have a higher immediate survival rate because they can move and forage independently but might miss out on critical learning experiences provided by parent figures.
• Evaluate how altricial development may influence evolutionary strategies within different species.
  • Altricial development influences evolutionary strategies by promoting traits that favor extended parental investment and social structures. Species that invest heavily in their young may see improved survival rates among offspring that learn essential survival skills through interaction with parents. This strategy could lead to greater social bonding among siblings but also escalate competition, impacting overall reproductive success. In environments where resources are scarce, these dynamics could shape adaptations that favor either cooperative behaviors or competitive tactics among siblings.

Related terms

Precocial development: A developmental strategy where offspring are born in a more advanced state, able to move around and feed themselves shortly after birth.

Sibling rivalry: The competition between siblings for resources, attention, and care from their parents, which can affect their growth and social dynamics.

Parental investment: The time and resources that parents allocate to raising their offspring, which can impact the survival and reproductive success of those offspring.