Question 1

The reproductive success of primate females depends upon

Accepted Answer

A)  interbirth interval variation. 
B)  group composition and size. 
C)  predation pressure. 
D)  the number and quality of offspring. 
A)  interbirth interval variation. 
B)  group composition and size. 
C)  predation pressure. 
D)  the number and quality of offspring.

Question 2

Why has Sarah Hardy's infanticide hypothesis been so controversial?

Accepted Answer

A)  Infanticide has never been controversial. 
B)  There have been no cases of infanticide among primates observed in the wild, though some have been observed in the lab. 
C)  The hypothesis uses the observation of infanticide among lions to infer that it happens among primates, with no additional proof. 
D)  At first, the phenomenon was only rarely observed; some thought that since infanticide occurred in nature, this would justify it among humans. 
A)  Infanticide has never been controversial. 
B)  There have been no cases of infanticide among primates observed in the wild, though some have been observed in the lab. 
C)  The hypothesis uses the observation of infanticide among lions to infer that it happens among primates, with no additional proof. 
D)  At first, the phenomenon was only rarely observed; some thought that since infanticide occurred in nature, this would justify it among humans.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of primiparous females in primates?

Accepted Answer

A)  They reproduce at faster rates than multiparous females. 
B)  They give birth to only one infant in their lifetimes. 
C)  They experience greater infant mortality than multiparous females. 
D)  They have shorter interbirth intervals than multiparous females. 
A)  They reproduce at faster rates than multiparous females. 
B)  They give birth to only one infant in their lifetimes. 
C)  They experience greater infant mortality than multiparous females. 
D)  They have shorter interbirth intervals than multiparous females.

Question 4

Because primates are mammals, what can you predict about their reproductive strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Resource competition forces pair-bonding. 
B)  Alpha males sire almost all of the offspring. 
C)  Males assist in rearing offspring in most cases. 
D)  Females are obligated to invest heavily in their offspring through pregnancy and lactation. 
A)  Resource competition forces pair-bonding. 
B)  Alpha males sire almost all of the offspring. 
C)  Males assist in rearing offspring in most cases. 
D)  Females are obligated to invest heavily in their offspring through pregnancy and lactation.

Question 5

Explain why it is important that we study and understand reproductive strategies of animals, and primates specifically.

Accepted Answer

We seek to understand how biological pri

Question 6

Female fertility is greatest in

Accepted Answer

A)  young females. 
B)  middle-age females. 
C)  older females. 
D)  primiparous females. 
A)  young females. 
B)  middle-age females. 
C)  older females. 
D)  primiparous females.

Question 7

Variance in reproductive success is a key driving factor in evolution. How does this affect sexual selection in mammals?

Accepted Answer

A)  Male variance can be much greater than female variance, so males are potentially under very strong sexual selection. 
B)  Female variance can be much greater than female variance, so females are potentially under very strong sexual selection. 
C)  The level of variance determines the amount of resources shunted into parental investment; the sex with the highest variance produces the most food for offspring. 
D)  The sex with the lowest variance, usually mammals, has the highest average number of offspring. 
A)  Male variance can be much greater than female variance, so males are potentially under very strong sexual selection. 
B)  Female variance can be much greater than female variance, so females are potentially under very strong sexual selection. 
C)  The level of variance determines the amount of resources shunted into parental investment; the sex with the highest variance produces the most food for offspring. 
D)  The sex with the lowest variance, usually mammals, has the highest average number of offspring.

Question 8

Birds and mammals have very different typical reproductive strategies. What is a key reason for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  In birds, both males and females can provide a great deal of parental investment for the young, because both can incubate the egg(s) and both can bring food to the chick(s). 
B)  Birds are not as highly evolved as primates, so they have simple undifferentiated mating systems mostly involving male songs and calls. 
C)  With their larger brains, mammals can form a wider range of relationships than can birds and therefore can form more productive mating systems. 
D)  Because they can fly, birds do not experience limitations on food availability and therefore undergo mainly sexual selection and almost no natural selection. 
A)  In birds, both males and females can provide a great deal of parental investment for the young, because both can incubate the egg(s) and both can bring food to the chick(s). 
B)  Birds are not as highly evolved as primates, so they have simple undifferentiated mating systems mostly involving male songs and calls. 
C)  With their larger brains, mammals can form a wider range of relationships than can birds and therefore can form more productive mating systems. 
D)  Because they can fly, birds do not experience limitations on food availability and therefore undergo mainly sexual selection and almost no natural selection.

Question 9

In gelada baboon social units, which of the following statements is true of "follower" males?

Accepted Answer

A)  They reproduce more successfully, independent of rank. 
B)  They are found in groups with small numbers of females. 
C)  They do not increase the tenure of "leader" males. 
D)  They sire approximately 17% of offspring in the group. 
A)  They reproduce more successfully, independent of rank. 
B)  They are found in groups with small numbers of females. 
C)  They do not increase the tenure of "leader" males. 
D)  They sire approximately 17% of offspring in the group.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true of sexual selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  It favors phenotypes that help survival. 
B)  It produces the same characteristics in both sexes. 
C)  It enhances offspring survival. 
D)  It favors traits that increase the ability to compete for mates. 
A)  It favors phenotypes that help survival. 
B)  It produces the same characteristics in both sexes. 
C)  It enhances offspring survival. 
D)  It favors traits that increase the ability to compete for mates.

Question 11

Explain the relationship between body, canine, and testis size and the following forms of social organization: (a) pair-bonded groups; (b) one-male, multifemale groups; and (c) multimale, multifemale groups.

Accepted Answer

Different types and levels of competitio

Question 12

Many primate females form dominance hierarchies because

Accepted Answer

A)  they compete with one another over access to mates. 
B)  societies run more smoothly with dominance hierarchies. 
C)  some females do not need as many resources as others. 
D)  they compete with one another over access to food. 
A)  they compete with one another over access to mates. 
B)  societies run more smoothly with dominance hierarchies. 
C)  some females do not need as many resources as others. 
D)  they compete with one another over access to food.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true of intersexual selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  It favors traits that enhance direct competition among individuals. 
B)  It favors traits that are attractive to the opposite sex. 
C)  It is a direct result of the environment. 
D)  It produces variation in survival between the sexes. 
A)  It favors traits that enhance direct competition among individuals. 
B)  It favors traits that are attractive to the opposite sex. 
C)  It is a direct result of the environment. 
D)  It produces variation in survival between the sexes.

Question 14

How can dominance status affect female reproductive success? Illustrate your answer with specific primate examples.

Accepted Answer

If the primary factor that limits female

Question 15

Primate mothers modify their investment in their offspring

Accepted Answer

A)  when offspring can give alarm calls. 
B)  with the mother's need to conserve resources. 
C)  after they conceive the next offspring. 
D)  depending on their mating system. 
A)  when offspring can give alarm calls. 
B)  with the mother's need to conserve resources. 
C)  after they conceive the next offspring. 
D)  depending on their mating system.

Question 16

How are most birds different from most mammals in their reproductive strategies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most birds are pair-bonded, while most mammals are not. 
B)  Most mammals are pair-bonded, while most birds are not. 
C)  Birds tend to reproduce randomly from season to season, while mammals form longer-term bonds. 
D)  Most birds produce a single offspring each time they reproduce, while mammals tend to produce one offspring at a time. 
A)  Most birds are pair-bonded, while most mammals are not. 
B)  Most mammals are pair-bonded, while most birds are not. 
C)  Birds tend to reproduce randomly from season to season, while mammals form longer-term bonds. 
D)  Most birds produce a single offspring each time they reproduce, while mammals tend to produce one offspring at a time.

Question 17

Direct male-male competition is most intense in ________ groups.

Accepted Answer

A)  pair-bonded 
B)  one-male, multifemale 
C)  multimale, multifemale 
D)  bachelor 
A)  pair-bonded 
B)  one-male, multifemale 
C)  multimale, multifemale 
D)  bachelor

Question 18

When compared with low-ranking females, high-ranking females may

Accepted Answer

A)  obtain larger quantities of food. 
B)  spend less energy to reproduce. 
C)  travel farther to feed. 
D)  spend more energy in courtship rituals. 
A)  obtain larger quantities of food. 
B)  spend less energy to reproduce. 
C)  travel farther to feed. 
D)  spend more energy in courtship rituals.

Question 19

High-ranking female baboons have much higher food intake than low-ranking female baboons. How can a female baboon compensate for her low rank and acquire more food?

Accepted Answer

A)  forage at the center of the group where she can spend less time avoiding predators and more time eating 
B)  provide the dominant females with a portion of her food so they will allow her to eat in peace 
C)  forage on the periphery of the group, but with a cost: she will be more vulnerable to predators 
D)  living longer 
A)  forage at the center of the group where she can spend less time avoiding predators and more time eating 
B)  provide the dominant females with a portion of her food so they will allow her to eat in peace 
C)  forage on the periphery of the group, but with a cost: she will be more vulnerable to predators 
D)  living longer

Question 20

In the language of adaptive explanations, what is meant by the term strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  a mechanism that leads to particular behaviors in particular contexts 
B)  a conscious decision to make adaptive behavioral choices 
C)  a conscious decision to make adaptive or nonadaptive behavioral choices 
D)  a behavior of higher animals, such as mammals 
A)  a mechanism that leads to particular behaviors in particular contexts 
B)  a conscious decision to make adaptive behavioral choices 
C)  a conscious decision to make adaptive or nonadaptive behavioral choices 
D)  a behavior of higher animals, such as mammals

The reproductive success of primate females depends upon

Why has Sarah Hardy's infanticide hypothesis been so controversial?

Which of the following is true of primiparous females in primates?

Because primates are mammals, what can you predict about their reproductive strategy?

Explain why it is important that we study and understand reproductive strategies of animals, and primates specifically.

Female fertility is greatest in

Variance in reproductive success is a key driving factor in evolution. How does this affect sexual selection in mammals?

Birds and mammals have very different typical reproductive strategies. What is a key reason for this?

In gelada baboon social units, which of the following statements is true of "follower" males?

Which of the following statements is true of sexual selection?

Explain the relationship between body, canine, and testis size and the following forms of social organization: (a) pair-bonded groups; (b) one-male, multifemale groups; and (c) multimale, multifemale groups.

Many primate females form dominance hierarchies because

Which of the following statements is true of intersexual selection?

How can dominance status affect female reproductive success? Illustrate your answer with specific primate examples.

Primate mothers modify their investment in their offspring

How are most birds different from most mammals in their reproductive strategies?

Direct male-male competition is most intense in ________ groups.

When compared with low-ranking females, high-ranking females may

High-ranking female baboons have much higher food intake than low-ranking female baboons. How can a female baboon compensate for her low rank and acquire more food?

In the language of adaptive explanations, what is meant by the term strategy?

Adaptation by Natural Selection

Genetics

The Modern Synthesis

Speciation and Phylogeny

Primate Diversity and Ecology

The Evolution of Cooperation

Primate Life Histories and the Evolution of Intelligence

From Tree Shrew to Ape

The Earliest Hominins

Early Homo and H Erectus 26-1 Ma

The Neanderthals and Their Contemporaries

Homo Sapiens and the Evolution of Modern Human Behavior

Human Genetics and Variation

Evolution and Human Behavior

Culture, Cooperation, and Human Uniqueness

Filters

Exam 6: Primate Mating Systems

The reproductive success of primate females depends upon

Why has Sarah Hardy's infanticide hypothesis been so controversial?

Which of the following is true of primiparous females in primates?

Because primates are mammals, what can you predict about their reproductive strategy?

Explain why it is important that we study and understand reproductive strategies of animals, and primates specifically.

Female fertility is greatest in

Variance in reproductive success is a key driving factor in evolution. How does this affect sexual selection in mammals?

Birds and mammals have very different typical reproductive strategies. What is a key reason for this?

In gelada baboon social units, which of the following statements is true of "follower" males?

Which of the following statements is true of sexual selection?

Explain the relationship between body, canine, and testis size and the following forms of social organization: (a) pair-bonded groups; (b) one-male, multifemale groups; and (c) multimale, multifemale groups.

Many primate females form dominance hierarchies because

Which of the following statements is true of intersexual selection?

How can dominance status affect female reproductive success? Illustrate your answer with specific primate examples.

Primate mothers modify their investment in their offspring

How are most birds different from most mammals in their reproductive strategies?

Direct male-male competition is most intense in ________ groups.

When compared with low-ranking females, high-ranking females may

High-ranking female baboons have much higher food intake than low-ranking female baboons. How can a female baboon compensate for her low rank and acquire more food?

In the language of adaptive explanations, what is meant by the term strategy?

Adaptation by Natural Selection

Genetics

The Modern Synthesis

Speciation and Phylogeny

Primate Diversity and Ecology

The Evolution of Cooperation

Primate Life Histories and the Evolution of Intelligence

From Tree Shrew to Ape

The Earliest Hominins

Early Homo and H Erectus 26-1 Ma

The Neanderthals and Their Contemporaries

Homo Sapiens and the Evolution of Modern Human Behavior

Human Genetics and Variation

Evolution and Human Behavior

Culture, Cooperation, and Human Uniqueness

Filters