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What species of chameleon was used in the study?
Cape dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum)
What behavior involves both chameleons biting each other’s jaws?
jaw-locking
What is the main goal of using game theory in animal behavior research?
To predict how animals make decisions during fights and contests.
What role did body size play in predicting fight outcomes?
Body size was a poor predictor of outcome — it only mattered when the size difference was extreme
How did the researchers identify the winner & loser of each chameleon contest?
The winner was the male that stayed bright in color, while the loser turned dark and either retreated or dropped to the ground.
Which game theory model was the best fit for chameleon contests?
The Cumulative Assessment Model (CAM).
What physical traits were found to influence fighting ability?
Casque height, the size of the flank color patch, and experience
What is the lowest-intensity behavior chameleons use in a contest?
Lateral aggressive display or head-shaking
Why did the researchers say the Cumulative Assessment Model (CAM), while the best fit, still wasn’t perfect?
Because some key predictions of CAM weren’t supported — like differences in escalation rates between winners and losers — suggesting that more than one decision rule may be at play.
How was “experience” measured in this study?
By counting the number of wins a male had in his two previous contests.
What did the 1–3 intensity scale help the researchers measure?
The level of behavioral escalation and contest intensity over time.
What two models were ruled out because behavior did not match between opponents?
WOA & AWOA
What statistical model did the researchers use to estimate fighting ability from multiple traits and experience?
The structured Bradley–Terry model
What specific pattern of escalation did the CAM predict for long contests?
That winners and losers would start at similar intensity levels, but winners would escalate more rapidly than losers.
What is one key difference between the Sequential Assessment Model (SAM) and the Cumulative Assessment Model (CAM)?
SAM is based on assessing your opponent’s strength; CAM is based only on the individual’s own cost threshold.