Question 1

Which of the following could be classified as habituation?

Accepted Answer

A) You enter a room and hear a fan motor. After a period of time, you are no longer aware of the motor's noise. 
B) You hear a horn while driving your car. You step on the brakes but notice the sound came from a side street. You resume your previous speed. 
C) One morning you awake to a beep-beep-beep from a garbage truck working on a new early morning schedule. The next week the garbage truck arrives at the same time and makes the same noise, but does not wake you up. 
D) A and C only 
E) A, B, and C 
A) You enter a room and hear a fan motor. After a period of time, you are no longer aware of the motor's noise. 
B) You hear a horn while driving your car. You step on the brakes but notice the sound came from a side street. You resume your previous speed. 
C) One morning you awake to a beep-beep-beep from a garbage truck working on a new early morning schedule. The next week the garbage truck arrives at the same time and makes the same noise, but does not wake you up. 
D) A and C only 
E) A, B, and C

Question 2

You turn on a light and observe cockroaches scurrying to dark hiding places. What have you observed?

Accepted Answer

A) taxis 
B) learned behavior 
C) migration 
D) visual communication 
E) operant conditioning 
A) taxis 
B) learned behavior 
C) migration 
D) visual communication 
E) operant conditioning

Question 3

The evolution of mating systems is most likely affected by

Accepted Answer

A) population size. 
B) care required by young. 
C) certainty of paternity. 
D) B and C only 
E) A, B , and C 
A) population size. 
B) care required by young. 
C) certainty of paternity. 
D) B and C only 
E) A, B , and C

Question 4

During a field trip, an instructor touched a moth resting on a tree trunk. The moth raised its forewings to reveal large eyespots on its hind wings. The instructor asked why the moth lifted its wings. One student answered that sensory receptors had fired and triggered a neuronal reflex culminating in the contraction of certain muscles. A second student responded that the behavior might frighten predators. Which statement best describes these explanations?

Accepted Answer

A) The first explanation is correct, but the second is incorrect. 
B) The first explanation refers to proximate causation, whereas the second refers to ultimate causation. 
C) The first explanation is biological, whereas the second is philosophical. 
D) The first explanation is testable as a scientific hypothesis, whereas the second is not. 
E) Both explanations are reasonable and simply represent a difference of opinion. 
A) The first explanation is correct, but the second is incorrect. 
B) The first explanation refers to proximate causation, whereas the second refers to ultimate causation. 
C) The first explanation is biological, whereas the second is philosophical. 
D) The first explanation is testable as a scientific hypothesis, whereas the second is not. 
E) Both explanations are reasonable and simply represent a difference of opinion.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about evolution of behavior is correct?

Accepted Answer

A) Natural selection will favor behavior that enhances survival and reproduction. 
B) An animal may show behavior that maximizes reproductive fitness. 
C) If a behavior is less than optimal, it is not completely evolved but will eventually become optimal. 
D) A and B only 
E) A, B, and C 
A) Natural selection will favor behavior that enhances survival and reproduction. 
B) An animal may show behavior that maximizes reproductive fitness. 
C) If a behavior is less than optimal, it is not completely evolved but will eventually become optimal. 
D) A and B only 
E) A, B, and C

Question 6

You discover a rare new bird species, but you are unable to observe its mating behavior. You see that the male is large and ornamental compared with the female. On this basis, you can probably conclude that the species is

Accepted Answer

A) polygamous. 
B) monogamous. 
C) polyandrous. 
D) promiscuous. 
E) agonistic. 
A) polygamous. 
B) monogamous. 
C) polyandrous. 
D) promiscuous. 
E) agonistic.

Question 7

Which statement below about mating behavior is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A) Some aspects of courtship behavior may have evolved from agonistic interactions. 
B) Courtship interactions ensure that the participating individuals are nonthreatening and of the proper species, sex, and physiological condition for mating. 
C) The degree to which evolution affects mating relationships depends on the degree of prenatal and postnatal input the parents are required to make. 
D) The mating relationship in most mammals is monogamous, to ensure the reproductive success of the pair. 
E) Polygamous relationships most often involve a single male and many females, but in some species this is reversed. 
A) Some aspects of courtship behavior may have evolved from agonistic interactions. 
B) Courtship interactions ensure that the participating individuals are nonthreatening and of the proper species, sex, and physiological condition for mating. 
C) The degree to which evolution affects mating relationships depends on the degree of prenatal and postnatal input the parents are required to make. 
D) The mating relationship in most mammals is monogamous, to ensure the reproductive success of the pair. 
E) Polygamous relationships most often involve a single male and many females, but in some species this is reversed.

Question 8

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 9

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 10

One way to understand how early environment influences differing behaviors in similar species is through the "cross-fostering" experimental technique. Suppose that the curly-whiskered mud rat differs from the bald mud rat in several ways, including being much more aggressive. How would you set up a cross-fostering experiment to determine if environment plays a role in the curly-whiskered mud rat's aggression?

Accepted Answer

A) You would cross curly-whiskered mud rats and bald mud rats and hand-rear the offspring. 
B) You would place newborn curly-whiskered mud rats with bald mud rat parents, place newborn bald mud rats with curly-whiskered mud rat parents, and let some mud rats of both species be raised by their own species. Then compare the outcomes. 
C) You would remove the offspring of curly-whiskered mud rats and bald mud rats from their parents and raise them in the same environment. 
D) You would see if curly-whiskered mud rats bred True for aggression. 
E) None of these schemes describes cross-fostering. 
A) You would cross curly-whiskered mud rats and bald mud rats and hand-rear the offspring. 
B) You would place newborn curly-whiskered mud rats with bald mud rat parents, place newborn bald mud rats with curly-whiskered mud rat parents, and let some mud rats of both species be raised by their own species. Then compare the outcomes. 
C) You would remove the offspring of curly-whiskered mud rats and bald mud rats from their parents and raise them in the same environment. 
D) You would see if curly-whiskered mud rats bred True for aggression. 
E) None of these schemes describes cross-fostering.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

Loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no new information is called

Accepted Answer

A) adapting. 
B) spacing. 
C) conditioning. 
D) imprinting. 
E) habituation. 
A) adapting. 
B) spacing. 
C) conditioning. 
D) imprinting. 
E) habituation.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A) a marker. 
B) an inducer. 
C) a pheromone. 
D) an imprinter. 
E) an agonistic chemical. 
A) a marker. 
B) an inducer. 
C) a pheromone. 
D) an imprinter. 
E) an agonistic chemical.

Question 14

The central concept of sociobiology is that

Accepted Answer

A) human behavior is rigidly predetermined. 
B) the behavior of an individual cannot be modified. 
C) our behavior consists mainly of fixed action patterns. 
D) most aspects of our social behavior have an evolutionary basis. 
E) the social behavior of humans is homologous to the social behavior of honeybees. 
A) human behavior is rigidly predetermined. 
B) the behavior of an individual cannot be modified. 
C) our behavior consists mainly of fixed action patterns. 
D) most aspects of our social behavior have an evolutionary basis. 
E) the social behavior of humans is homologous to the social behavior of honeybees.

Question 15

In the evolution of whelk-eating behavior in crows, which of the following did natural selection minimize?

Accepted Answer

A) the average number of drops required to break the shell 
B) the average height a bird flew to drop a shell 
C) the average total energy used to break shells 
D) the average size of the shells dropped by the birds 
E) the average thickness of the shells dropped by the birds 
A) the average number of drops required to break the shell 
B) the average height a bird flew to drop a shell 
C) the average total energy used to break shells 
D) the average size of the shells dropped by the birds 
E) the average thickness of the shells dropped by the birds

Question 16

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, correct 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, correct 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 17

Optimal foraging involves all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A) maximizing energy gained by the forager. 
B) minimizing energy expended by the forager. 
C) securing essential nutrients for the forager. 
D) minimizing the risk of predation on the forager. 
E) maximizing the population size of the forager. 
A) maximizing energy gained by the forager. 
B) minimizing energy expended by the forager. 
C) securing essential nutrients for the forager. 
D) minimizing the risk of predation on the forager. 
E) maximizing the population size of the forager.

Question 18

Which scientist formulated four questions that motivate the modern study of animal behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) E. O. Wilson 
B) Jane Goodall 
C) J. B. S. Haldane 
D) Niko Tinbergen 
E) William Hamilton 
A) E. O. Wilson 
B) Jane Goodall 
C) J. B. S. Haldane 
D) Niko Tinbergen 
E) William Hamilton

Question 19

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 20

Sparrows are receptive to learning songs only during a sensitive period. What term best applies to this behavior?

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 51: Animal Behavior

Which of the following could be classified as habituation?

You turn on a light and observe cockroaches scurrying to dark hiding places. What have you observed?

The evolution of mating systems is most likely affected by

Which of the following statements about evolution of behavior is correct?

You discover a rare new bird species, but you are unable to observe its mating behavior. You see that the male is large and ornamental compared with the female. On this basis, you can probably conclude that the species is

Which statement below about mating behavior is incorrect?

Which of the following is True about imprinting?

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

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

Loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no new information is called

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

The central concept of sociobiology is that

In the evolution of whelk-eating behavior in crows, which of the following did natural selection minimize?

According to Hamilton's rule,

Optimal foraging involves all of the following except

Which scientist formulated four questions that motivate the modern study of animal behavior?

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning differ in that

Sparrows are receptive to learning songs only during a sensitive period. What term best applies to this behavior?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and the Fitness of the Environment

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: Harvesting Chemical Energy

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

Control 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 Introduction to Animal Diversity

Invertebrates

Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

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

Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology

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