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SDSJap · 07-31-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melchizedek

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDSJap

species who produce few children MUST protect their biologicall investment from predators or the species will slowly dwindle even from huge numbers to nothing.

wildebeast have one or two offspring a year,same as many other creatures,and like them will leave those young in a second to preserve their own life,of course they might try to protect their young,but its a fact that they think of self preservation first,and the fact that you will not return back to this forum with any evidence to show the contrary proves I am right

Quote:

Nesting territories often provide areas of protection such as dens, burrows, etc. where the young may hide after birth. Because young wildebeests are protected from predation largely through the herd effect, males' territories do not serve nesting purposes. In the wildebeest social system, predation of the young by hyenas is a necessary concern, and thus must be addressed by the wildebeest population. For example, each year approximately three quarters of calves may be lost to predation, mostly the hyena (McFarland, 1982). Hyenas strive to locate the most vulnerable potential prey and thus seek the disease, injured, or incapacitated calves (Estes, 1979). Less frequently the wild dog and the cheetah may prey upon wildebeest calves. In the wildebeest system of protection for the young, several tactics are employed: (a) the young keep a safe distance from predators and stay within a large group, (b) they may attempt to outrun a predator if singled out, and (c) mothers may attempt to defend their young against an aggressive predator (Estes, 1979). Although (b) may seem impossible for a newborn calf, studies have shown that calves can run along side their mothers within a few minutes after being born (McFarland, 1982). Despite this ability, the best protection tactic is (a) the herd effect as a young wildebeests chance of being picked off are tremendously reduced when it is surrounded by a large aggregation of other wildebeests (Estes, 1979). As members of a large herd, the young are often shielded by their mothers, who place themselves between the predator and their offspring. Additionally, other wildebeests in the herd attempt to screen the mother and her offspring from the predator's eye (Estes, 1979). Thus, because the herd effect is the wildebeests' best tactic to avoid predation of offspring, a male need not defend his territory for purposes of defending newly born wildebeest calves. On a defended territory away from the masses of the herd, a young wildebeest would become easy prey for hyenas and wild dogs among others.

Source

but even then 1-2 young a year is a rather high number compared with primates. Also wildebeast survival adaptation is the herd, in primates it is a social group. not only strength in numbers but strength in help.

also how do you explain the care taken by animals such as the male penguin? resisting hunger for 4months, bearing the brunt of polar blizards etc. thats pretty amazing IMO for such selfish animals