Question 1

A salmon returns to its home stream to spawn. What term best applies to this behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  sign stimulus 
B)  cognition 
C)  imprinting 
D)  classical conditioning 
E)  operant conditioning 
A)  sign stimulus 
B)  cognition 
C)  imprinting 
D)  classical conditioning 
E)  operant conditioning

Question 2

According to Hamilton's rule,

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection does not favor altruistic behavior that causes the death of the altruist. 
B)  natural selection favors altruistic acts when the resulting benefit to the beneficiary, corrected for relatedness, exceeds the cost to the altruist. 
C)  natural selection is more likely to favor altruistic behavior that benefits an offspring than altruistic behavior that benefits a sibling. 
D)  the effects of kin selection are larger than the effects of direct natural selection on individuals. 
E)  altruism is always reciprocal. 
A)  natural selection does not favor altruistic behavior that causes the death of the altruist. 
B)  natural selection favors altruistic acts when the resulting benefit to the beneficiary, corrected for relatedness, exceeds the cost to the altruist. 
C)  natural selection is more likely to favor altruistic behavior that benefits an offspring than altruistic behavior that benefits a sibling. 
D)  the effects of kin selection are larger than the effects of direct natural selection on individuals. 
E)  altruism is always reciprocal.

Question 3

A chemical produced by an animal that serves as a communication to another animal of the same species is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a sign stimulus. 
B)  an inducer. 
C)  a pheromone. 
D)  an imprinter. 
E)  an agonistic promoter. 
A)  a sign stimulus. 
B)  an inducer. 
C)  a pheromone. 
D)  an imprinter. 
E)  an agonistic promoter.

Question 4

The evolution of mating systems is most likely affected by

Accepted Answer

A)  population density. 
B)  territoriality. 
C)  certainty of paternity. 
D)  sexual dimorphism. 
E)  None of the options is correct. 
A)  population density. 
B)  territoriality. 
C)  certainty of paternity. 
D)  sexual dimorphism. 
E)  None of the options is correct.

Question 5

Which of the following is not required for a behavioral trait to evolve by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  In each individual, the form of the behavior is determined entirely by genes. 
B)  The behavior varies among individuals. 
C)  An individual's reproductive success depends in part on how the behavior is performed. 
D)  Some component of the behavior is genetically inherited. 
E)  An individual's genotype influences its behavioral phenotype. 
A)  In each individual, the form of the behavior is determined entirely by genes. 
B)  The behavior varies among individuals. 
C)  An individual's reproductive success depends in part on how the behavior is performed. 
D)  Some component of the behavior is genetically inherited. 
E)  An individual's genotype influences its behavioral phenotype.

Question 6

Female spotted sandpipers aggressively court males and, after mating, leave the clutch of young for the male to incubate. This sequence may be repeated several times with different males until no available males remain, forcing the female to incubate her last clutch. Which of the following terms best describes this behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  monogamy 
B)  polygyny 
C)  polyandry 
D)  promiscuity 
E)  certainty of paternity 
A)  monogamy 
B)  polygyny 
C)  polyandry 
D)  promiscuity 
E)  certainty of paternity

Question 7

Listed below are several examples of types of animal behavior. Match the letter of the correct term (A-E) to each example in the following questions.
A. operant conditioning
B. agonistic behavior
C innate behavior
D. imprinting
E. altruistic behavior
-A cage containing male mosquitoes has a small earphone placed on top, through which the sound of a female mosquito is played. All the males immediately fly to the earphone and go through all of the steps of copulation. What is the best explanation for this behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  The males learn to associate the sound with females. 
B)  Copulation is a fixed action pattern, and the female flight sound is a sign stimulus that initiates it. 
C)  The sound from the earphone irritates the male mosquitoes, causing them to attempt to sting it. 
D)  The reproductive drive is so strong that when males are deprived of females, they will attempt to mate with anything that has even the slightest female characteristic. 
E)  Through classical conditioning, the male mosquitoes have associated the inappropriate stimulus from the earphone with the normal response of copulation. 
A)  The males learn to associate the sound with females. 
B)  Copulation is a fixed action pattern, and the female flight sound is a sign stimulus that initiates it. 
C)  The sound from the earphone irritates the male mosquitoes, causing them to attempt to sting it. 
D)  The reproductive drive is so strong that when males are deprived of females, they will attempt to mate with anything that has even the slightest female characteristic. 
E)  Through classical conditioning, the male mosquitoes have associated the inappropriate stimulus from the earphone with the normal response of copulation.

Question 8

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning differ in that

Accepted Answer

A)  classical conditioning takes longer. 
B)  operant conditioning usually involves more intelligence. 
C)  operant conditioning involves consequences for the animal's behavior. 
D)  classical conditioning is restricted to mammals and birds. 
E)  classical conditioning is much more useful for training domestic animals. 
A)  classical conditioning takes longer. 
B)  operant conditioning usually involves more intelligence. 
C)  operant conditioning involves consequences for the animal's behavior. 
D)  classical conditioning is restricted to mammals and birds. 
E)  classical conditioning is much more useful for training domestic animals.

Question 9

If mayflies lay eggs on roads instead of in water, it would indicate which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  a defective gene 
B)  trial-and-error learning 
C)  a misdirected response to a sign stimulus 
D)  a natural behavioral variation in the mayfly population 
E)  aberrant behavior due to insecticide poisoning 
A)  a defective gene 
B)  trial-and-error learning 
C)  a misdirected response to a sign stimulus 
D)  a natural behavioral variation in the mayfly population 
E)  aberrant behavior due to insecticide poisoning

Question 10

A female cat in heat urinates more often and in many places. Male cats are attracted to the urine deposits. Which of the following is a proximate cause of this increased urination?

Accepted Answer

A)  It announces to the males that she is in heat. 
B)  Female cats that did this in the past attracted more males. 
C)  It is a result of hormonal changes associated with her reproductive cycle. 
D)  The female cat learned the behavior from observing other cats. 
E)  All of the options are ultimate causes of behavior. 
A)  It announces to the males that she is in heat. 
B)  Female cats that did this in the past attracted more males. 
C)  It is a result of hormonal changes associated with her reproductive cycle. 
D)  The female cat learned the behavior from observing other cats. 
E)  All of the options are ultimate causes of behavior.

Question 11

A type of learning that can occur only during a brief period of early life and results in a behavior that is difficult to modify through later experiences is called

Accepted Answer

A)  insight. 
B)  imprinting. 
C)  habituation. 
D)  operant conditioning. 
E)  trial-and-error learning. 
A)  insight. 
B)  imprinting. 
C)  habituation. 
D)  operant conditioning. 
E)  trial-and-error learning.

Question 12

The fru gene in fruit flies

Accepted Answer

A)  controls sex-specific development in the fruit fly. 
B)  is a master regulatory gene that directs expression of many other genes. 
C)  can be genetically manipulated in females so that they will perform male sex behaviors. 
D)  programs males for appropriate courtship behaviors. 
E)  All of the options are correct. 
A)  controls sex-specific development in the fruit fly. 
B)  is a master regulatory gene that directs expression of many other genes. 
C)  can be genetically manipulated in females so that they will perform male sex behaviors. 
D)  programs males for appropriate courtship behaviors. 
E)  All of the options are correct.

Question 13

The color of throats of males in a population of side-blotched lizards is determined by

Accepted Answer

A)  the frequency of homozygous recessive genotype. 
B)  ambient temperature-blue = cold; orange = normal; yellow = hot. 
C)  stage of development/maturity. 
D)  their receptiveness to mate. 
E)  the success of the mating behavior of each of the throat color phenotypes. 
A)  the frequency of homozygous recessive genotype. 
B)  ambient temperature-blue = cold; orange = normal; yellow = hot. 
C)  stage of development/maturity. 
D)  their receptiveness to mate. 
E)  the success of the mating behavior of each of the throat color phenotypes.

Question 14

Feeding behavior with a high energy intake-to-expenditure ratio is called

Accepted Answer

A)  herbivory. 
B)  autotrophy. 
C)  heterotrophy. 
D)  search scavenging. 
E)  optimal foraging. 
A)  herbivory. 
B)  autotrophy. 
C)  heterotrophy. 
D)  search scavenging. 
E)  optimal foraging.

Question 15

What is the fitness benefit of polygamy in birds that rear precocious young?

Accepted Answer

A)  Females will copulate with many males to ensure that all of their eggs are fertilized. 
B)  Females don't have to decide on one mate, and can copulate with as many males as she deems worthy to share her genes with in reproduction. 
C)  Fit males don't have to help feed and rear young and can spend this time seeking and mating with many females. 
D)  Females don't have to spend time rearing young and can mate and rear additional broods during a breeding season. 
E)  Both males and females spend little time with courtship and brood-rearing, and don't tax their own physiology so they can breed again in subsequent breeding seasons. 
A)  Females will copulate with many males to ensure that all of their eggs are fertilized. 
B)  Females don't have to decide on one mate, and can copulate with as many males as she deems worthy to share her genes with in reproduction. 
C)  Fit males don't have to help feed and rear young and can spend this time seeking and mating with many females. 
D)  Females don't have to spend time rearing young and can mate and rear additional broods during a breeding season. 
E)  Both males and females spend little time with courtship and brood-rearing, and don't tax their own physiology so they can breed again in subsequent breeding seasons.

Question 16

What type of signal is brief and can work among obstructions at night?

Accepted Answer

A)  olfactory 
B)  visual 
C)  auditory 
D)  tactile 
E)  magnetic 
A)  olfactory 
B)  visual 
C)  auditory 
D)  tactile 
E)  magnetic

Question 17

Which of the following is true about imprinting?

Accepted Answer

A)  It may be triggered by visual or chemical stimuli. 
B)  It happens to many adult animals, but not to their young. 
C)  It is a type of learning that does not involve innate behavior. 
D)  It occurs only in birds. 
E)  It causes behaviors that last for only a short time (the sensitive period). 
A)  It may be triggered by visual or chemical stimuli. 
B)  It happens to many adult animals, but not to their young. 
C)  It is a type of learning that does not involve innate behavior. 
D)  It occurs only in birds. 
E)  It causes behaviors that last for only a short time (the sensitive period).

Question 18

Scientists have tried raising endangered whooping cranes in captivity by using sandhill cranes as foster parents. This strategy is no longer used because

Accepted Answer

A)  fostered whooping crane chicks did not develop the necessary cues for migration. 
B)  the fostered whooping cranes' critical period was variable such that different chicks imprinted on different "mothers." 
C)  sandhill crane parents rejected their fostered whooping crane chicks soon after incubation. 
D)  none of the fostered whooping cranes formed a mating pair-bond with another whooping crane. 
E)  sandhill crane parents did not properly incubate whooping crane eggs. 
A)  fostered whooping crane chicks did not develop the necessary cues for migration. 
B)  the fostered whooping cranes' critical period was variable such that different chicks imprinted on different "mothers." 
C)  sandhill crane parents rejected their fostered whooping crane chicks soon after incubation. 
D)  none of the fostered whooping cranes formed a mating pair-bond with another whooping crane. 
E)  sandhill crane parents did not properly incubate whooping crane eggs.

Question 19

A region of the canary forebrain shrinks during the nonbreeding season and enlarges when breeding season begins. This change is probably associated with the annual

Accepted Answer

A)  addition of new syllables to a canary's song repertoire. 
B)  crystallization of subsong into adult songs. 
C)  sensitive period in which canary parents imprint on new offspring. 
D)  renewal of mating and nest-building behaviors. 
E)  elimination of the memorized template for songs sung the previous year. 
A)  addition of new syllables to a canary's song repertoire. 
B)  crystallization of subsong into adult songs. 
C)  sensitive period in which canary parents imprint on new offspring. 
D)  renewal of mating and nest-building behaviors. 
E)  elimination of the memorized template for songs sung the previous year.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes "game theory" as it applies to animal behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  The fitness of a particular behavior is influenced by other behavioral phenotypes in a population. 
B)  The total of all of the behavioral displays, both male and female, is related to courtship. 
C)  An individual in a population changes a behavioral phenotype to gain a competitive advantage. 
D)  The play behavior performed by juveniles allows them to perfect adult behaviors that are needed for survival, such as hunting, courtship, and so on. 
E)  The evolutionary "game" is played between predator and prey, wherein the prey develops a behavior through natural selection that enables it to be less vulnerable to predation, and the predator counters with a new reciprocal predatory behavior. 
A)  The fitness of a particular behavior is influenced by other behavioral phenotypes in a population. 
B)  The total of all of the behavioral displays, both male and female, is related to courtship. 
C)  An individual in a population changes a behavioral phenotype to gain a competitive advantage. 
D)  The play behavior performed by juveniles allows them to perfect adult behaviors that are needed for survival, such as hunting, courtship, and so on. 
E)  The evolutionary "game" is played between predator and prey, wherein the prey develops a behavior through natural selection that enables it to be less vulnerable to predation, and the predator counters with a new reciprocal predatory behavior.

Exam 51: Animal Behavior

A salmon returns to its home stream to spawn. What term best applies to this behavior?

According to Hamilton's rule,

A chemical produced by an animal that serves as a communication to another animal of the same species is called

The evolution of mating systems is most likely affected by

Which of the following is not required for a behavioral trait to evolve by natural selection?

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning differ in that

If mayflies lay eggs on roads instead of in water, it would indicate which of the following?

A female cat in heat urinates more often and in many places. Male cats are attracted to the urine deposits. Which of the following is a proximate cause of this increased urination?

A type of learning that can occur only during a brief period of early life and results in a behavior that is difficult to modify through later experiences is called

The fru gene in fruit flies

The color of throats of males in a population of side-blotched lizards is determined by

Feeding behavior with a high energy intake-to-expenditure ratio is called

What is the fitness benefit of polygamy in birds that rear precocious young?

What type of signal is brief and can work among obstructions at night?

Which of the following is true about imprinting?

Scientists have tried raising endangered whooping cranes in captivity by using sandhill cranes as foster parents. This strategy is no longer used because

A region of the canary forebrain shrinks during the nonbreeding season and enlarges when breeding season begins. This change is probably associated with the annual

Which of the following best describes "game theory" as it applies to animal behavior?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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