Question 1

Which of the following is NOT true about sex-role reversed species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Females produce smaller gametes than males. 
B)  Females often possess ornaments. 
C)  Males often provide higher levels of parental care than do females. 
D)  Polyandry is common. 
E)  Females often aggressively compete for males. 
A)  Females produce smaller gametes than males. 
B)  Females often possess ornaments. 
C)  Males often provide higher levels of parental care than do females. 
D)  Polyandry is common. 
E)  Females often aggressively compete for males. A

Question 2

What two factors favor the evolution of monogamy?

Accepted Answer

The need for biparental care to successfully raise offspring and the need for two individuals to successfully defend a territory.

Question 3

In elephant seals, a male competes with other males while defending several females with whom he mates. What term best describes this social mating system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Male aggressive polygynandry 
B)  Female passive polyandry 
C)  Female defense polygyny 
D)  Male dominance polygyny 
E)  Male-female plural breeding 
A)  Male aggressive polygynandry 
B)  Female passive polyandry 
C)  Female defense polygyny 
D)  Male dominance polygyny 
E)  Male-female plural breeding C

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a proposed benefit of multi-male mating by females?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reduced likelihood of infanticide 
B)  Reduced predation risk 
C)  Additional parental care for offspring 
D)  Increased genetic diversity of offspring 
E)  Increased genetic quality of offspring 
A)  Reduced likelihood of infanticide 
B)  Reduced predation risk 
C)  Additional parental care for offspring 
D)  Increased genetic diversity of offspring 
E)  Increased genetic quality of offspring

Question 5

Which of the following is characteristic of a promiscuous mating system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both males and females have multiple sexual partners. 
B)  Pair bonds are formed early in the breeding season. 
C)  Individuals have a single sexual partner but mate repeatedly. 
D)  Young individuals have more sexual partners than do older individuals. 
E)  Extra-pair copulations commonly occur. 
A)  Both males and females have multiple sexual partners. 
B)  Pair bonds are formed early in the breeding season. 
C)  Individuals have a single sexual partner but mate repeatedly. 
D)  Young individuals have more sexual partners than do older individuals. 
E)  Extra-pair copulations commonly occur.

Question 6

Social monogamy is rare in mammals but common in birds. What difference is hypothesized to explain this observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The mean body size 
B)  The need for biparental care 
C)  The mean body temperature 
D)  The average diet 
E)  The average brain size 
A)  The mean body size 
B)  The need for biparental care 
C)  The mean body temperature 
D)  The average diet 
E)  The average brain size

Question 7

You collect data at a lek and notice that a single male obtains over 70% of the matings that occur there. When he is experimentally removed, the remaining males move to different locations on the lek. What hypothesis best explains this observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis 
B)  Hotspot hypothesis 
C)  Mate competition hypothesis 
D)  Mate-guarding hypothesis 
E)  Hotshot hypothesis 
A)  Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis 
B)  Hotspot hypothesis 
C)  Mate competition hypothesis 
D)  Mate-guarding hypothesis 
E)  Hotshot hypothesis

Question 8

What association did Leisler find between mating system and habitat quality in the birds he studied?

Accepted Answer

A)  Monogamy was prevalent in poor-quality habitats. 
B)  Polygyny was prevalent in xeric habitats. 
C)  Polygynandry was prevalent in mesic habitats. 
D)  Male dominance polygyny was predominant in medium-quality habitats. 
E)  Polyandry was predominant in high-quality habitats 
A)  Monogamy was prevalent in poor-quality habitats. 
B)  Polygyny was prevalent in xeric habitats. 
C)  Polygynandry was prevalent in mesic habitats. 
D)  Male dominance polygyny was predominant in medium-quality habitats. 
E)  Polyandry was predominant in high-quality habitats

Question 9

In some hummingbirds, males compete for display sites on a lek. Females then visit the lek to select a mate. What term do Emlen and Oring use to refer to such a mating system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Female defense polygyny 
B)  Female passive polyandry 
C)  Male aggressive polygynandry 
D)  Male dominance polygyny 
E)  Male-female plural breeding 
A)  Female defense polygyny 
B)  Female passive polyandry 
C)  Male aggressive polygynandry 
D)  Male dominance polygyny 
E)  Male-female plural breeding

Question 10

Which hypothesis can explain social monogamy in species without biparental care?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mate competition 
B)  Polygyny threshold 
C)  Genetic quality 
D)  Public information 
E)  Territorial cooperation. 
A)  Mate competition 
B)  Polygyny threshold 
C)  Genetic quality 
D)  Public information 
E)  Territorial cooperation.

Question 11

The Emlen and Oring model of the evolution of social mating systems is based on sexual conflict theory, which assumes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Females typically invest more energy into offspring than do males. 
B)  Females typically are smaller than males. 
C)  Males and females typically differ in their lifetime number of mates. 
D)  Sperm competition is unimportant. 
E)  Sex-role reversed species do not exist. 
A)  Females typically invest more energy into offspring than do males. 
B)  Females typically are smaller than males. 
C)  Males and females typically differ in their lifetime number of mates. 
D)  Sperm competition is unimportant. 
E)  Sex-role reversed species do not exist.

Question 12

Extra-pair copulations do NOT occur in which mating system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Extra-pair 
B)  Polygamous 
C)  Polyandrous 
D)  Promiscuous 
E)  Polygynandrous 
A)  Extra-pair 
B)  Polygamous 
C)  Polyandrous 
D)  Promiscuous 
E)  Polygynandrous

Question 13

Which of the following is a necessary aspect of the hotspot hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  A male with a large nuptial gift 
B)  A high-quality male in the population 
C)  A location with ideal thermal properties 
D)  A location of high female activity 
E)  Females possess exaggerated secondary sexual traits 
A)  A male with a large nuptial gift 
B)  A high-quality male in the population 
C)  A location with ideal thermal properties 
D)  A location of high female activity 
E)  Females possess exaggerated secondary sexual traits

Question 14

You discover a new species of bird and observe that males defend similar-sized territories early in the breeding season and that females then settle on these territories. On some male territories, only one female settles to breed, while on others, multiple females settle and breed. How would you best classify this social mating system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Polygyny 
B)  Polyandry 
C)  Polgynandry 
D)  Promiscuity 
E)  Plural breeding 
A)  Polygyny 
B)  Polyandry 
C)  Polgynandry 
D)  Promiscuity 
E)  Plural breeding

Question 15

Explain why monogamy in reed warblers is favored in resource-poor environments.

Accepted Answer

When resources are s

Question 16

What method did Leisler use to test the Emlen and Oring model of the evolution of mating systems in birds?

Accepted Answer

A)  Knockout method 
B)  Experimental method 
C)  Observational method 
D)  QTL method 
E)  Comparative method 
A)  Knockout method 
B)  Experimental method 
C)  Observational method 
D)  QTL method 
E)  Comparative method

Question 17

Common crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) are a socially and genetically monogamous bird whereas Gunnison's sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) form leks and are polygynous. What prediction can you make about the degree of variation in male mating success in these two species?

Accepted Answer

Polygynous species have higher

Question 18

In the polygyny threshold model below, explain why the "Monogomous" line lies above the "Polygynous" line with respect to female fitness.

Accepted Answer

For a territory of given quality, a fema

Question 19

In the polygyny threshold model, why do some females mate polygynously when they have the opportunity to mate monogamously?

Accepted Answer

A)  They experience reduced disease transmission. 
B)  They experience lower predation risk. 
C)  They obtain more resources. 
D)  They obtain greater care for their young. 
E)  They have lower energy requirements. 
A)  They experience reduced disease transmission. 
B)  They experience lower predation risk. 
C)  They obtain more resources. 
D)  They obtain greater care for their young. 
E)  They have lower energy requirements.

Question 20

What study design was used by researchers to study mating systems in California mice and poison frogs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Phylogenetic analysis of related species 
B)  Experimental addition of resources 
C)  Experimental addition of competitors 
D)  Experimental reduction in parental care 
E)  Correlations between habitat and mating system 
A)  Phylogenetic analysis of related species 
B)  Experimental addition of resources 
C)  Experimental addition of competitors 
D)  Experimental reduction in parental care 
E)  Correlations between habitat and mating system

Which of the following is NOT true about sex-role reversed species?

What two factors favor the evolution of monogamy?

In elephant seals, a male competes with other males while defending several females with whom he mates. What term best describes this social mating system?

Which of the following is NOT a proposed benefit of multi-male mating by females?

Which of the following is characteristic of a promiscuous mating system?

Social monogamy is rare in mammals but common in birds. What difference is hypothesized to explain this observation?

You collect data at a lek and notice that a single male obtains over 70% of the matings that occur there. When he is experimentally removed, the remaining males move to different locations on the lek. What hypothesis best explains this observation?

What association did Leisler find between mating system and habitat quality in the birds he studied?

In some hummingbirds, males compete for display sites on a lek. Females then visit the lek to select a mate. What term do Emlen and Oring use to refer to such a mating system?

Which hypothesis can explain social monogamy in species without biparental care?

The Emlen and Oring model of the evolution of social mating systems is based on sexual conflict theory, which assumes which of the following?

Extra-pair copulations do NOT occur in which mating system?

Which of the following is a necessary aspect of the hotspot hypothesis?

Explain why monogamy in reed warblers is favored in resource-poor environments.

What method did Leisler use to test the Emlen and Oring model of the evolution of mating systems in birds?

Common crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) are a socially and genetically monogamous bird whereas Gunnison's sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) form leks and are polygynous. What prediction can you make about the degree of variation in male mating success in these two species?

In the polygyny threshold model below, explain why the "Monogomous" line lies above the "Polygynous" line with respect to female fitness.

In the polygyny threshold model, why do some females mate polygynously when they have the opportunity to mate monogamously?

What study design was used by researchers to study mating systems in California mice and poison frogs?

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Exam 13: Mating Systems

Which of the following is NOT true about sex-role reversed species?

What two factors favor the evolution of monogamy?

In elephant seals, a male competes with other males while defending several females with whom he mates. What term best describes this social mating system?

Which of the following is NOT a proposed benefit of multi-male mating by females?

Which of the following is characteristic of a promiscuous mating system?

Social monogamy is rare in mammals but common in birds. What difference is hypothesized to explain this observation?

You collect data at a lek and notice that a single male obtains over 70% of the matings that occur there. When he is experimentally removed, the remaining males move to different locations on the lek. What hypothesis best explains this observation?

What association did Leisler find between mating system and habitat quality in the birds he studied?

In some hummingbirds, males compete for display sites on a lek. Females then visit the lek to select a mate. What term do Emlen and Oring use to refer to such a mating system?

Which hypothesis can explain social monogamy in species without biparental care?

The Emlen and Oring model of the evolution of social mating systems is based on sexual conflict theory, which assumes which of the following?

Extra-pair copulations do NOT occur in which mating system?

Which of the following is a necessary aspect of the hotspot hypothesis?

Explain why monogamy in reed warblers is favored in resource-poor environments.

What method did Leisler use to test the Emlen and Oring model of the evolution of mating systems in birds?

Common crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) are a socially and genetically monogamous bird whereas Gunnison's sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) form leks and are polygynous. What prediction can you make about the degree of variation in male mating success in these two species?

In the polygyny threshold model below, explain why the "Monogomous" line lies above the "Polygynous" line with respect to female fitness.

In the polygyny threshold model, why do some females mate polygynously when they have the opportunity to mate monogamously?

What study design was used by researchers to study mating systems in California mice and poison frogs?

The Science of Animal Behavior

Methods for Studying Animal Behavior

Evolution and the Study of Animal Behavior

Behavioral Genetics

Sensory Systems and Behavior

Communication

Learning, Neuroethology, and Cognition

Foraging Behavior

Antipredator Behavior

Dispersal and Migration

Habitat Selection, Territoriality, and Aggression

Mating Behavior

Parental Care

Sociality

Cooperative Behavior

Filters