Question 1

What is the term for selection that favors altruism toward relatives?

Accepted Answer

A) kin selection 
B) mate choice 
C) group selection 
D) nepotism 
A) kin selection 
B) mate choice 
C) group selection 
D) nepotism

Question 2

Artificial selection and hybridization can demonstrate the __________ basis of behavior.

Accepted Answer

A) cognitive 
B) operant 
C) genetic 
D) associational 
A) cognitive 
B) operant 
C) genetic 
D) associational

Question 3

Which best describes the role of neurotransmitters in behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) In specific ecological contexts, neurotransmitters can be important for behavior.For instance, aggression requires the neurotransmitter serotonin. 
B) Some specific behaviors will require neurotransmitters.For instance, aggression requires the neurotransmitter serotonin. 
C) Neurotransmitters allow neurons to communicate, and are thus involved in all behaviors.Levels of specific neurotransmitters have been associated with levels of specific behaviors -- such as serotonin and aggression. 
D) Neurotransmitters have been developed for researchers who want to manipulate animal behaviors.For instance, serotonin can be applied to lobsters to increase aggression. 
A) In specific ecological contexts, neurotransmitters can be important for behavior.For instance, aggression requires the neurotransmitter serotonin. 
B) Some specific behaviors will require neurotransmitters.For instance, aggression requires the neurotransmitter serotonin. 
C) Neurotransmitters allow neurons to communicate, and are thus involved in all behaviors.Levels of specific neurotransmitters have been associated with levels of specific behaviors -- such as serotonin and aggression. 
D) Neurotransmitters have been developed for researchers who want to manipulate animal behaviors.For instance, serotonin can be applied to lobsters to increase aggression.

Question 4

Research has revealed that the development of psychological well-being and growth is influenced by what?

Accepted Answer

A) imprinting 
B) physical contact 
C) sensitization 
D) associative learning 
A) imprinting 
B) physical contact 
C) sensitization 
D) associative learning

Question 5

Konrad Lorenz demonstrated that newly hatched birds would direct their social behavior toward him if they saw him first after they hatched from their eggs.What is this called?

Accepted Answer

A) cross-fostering behavior 
B) operant conditioning 
C) fixed action patterning 
D) habituation behavior 
E) imprinting behavior 
A) cross-fostering behavior 
B) operant conditioning 
C) fixed action patterning 
D) habituation behavior 
E) imprinting behavior

Question 6

Haldane pointed out that if he received a certain allele, the chance that one of his brothers would receive that allele would be

Accepted Answer

A) 100%. 
B) 50%. 
C) 10%. 
D) random. 
A) 100%. 
B) 50%. 
C) 10%. 
D) random.

Question 7

Habituation belongs to which of the following types of learning?

Accepted Answer

A) nonassociative 
B) behavior modification 
C) conditioning 
D) innate release 
A) nonassociative 
B) behavior modification 
C) conditioning 
D) innate release

Question 8

The vertical dive of a moth for cover when it hears the ultrasound chirps of an approaching bat is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) sign stimulus. 
B) fixed action pattern. 
C) innate releasing mechanism. 
D) supernormal stimulus. 
A) sign stimulus. 
B) fixed action pattern. 
C) innate releasing mechanism. 
D) supernormal stimulus.

Question 9

Female fire beetles, Melanophilia sp., must seek out freshly-burned trees to lay their eggs in so the larvae can feed on the burned wood.What specialized neural structures might you expect these beetles to have to facilitate this behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) Extra large axons for rapid axonal transduction 
B) Special, enlarged synapses for rapid synaptic transmission 
C) Giant brain structures for processing auditory information 
D) Special sensory structures that can detect signs of fire or burned wood Clarify question: 
A) Extra large axons for rapid axonal transduction 
B) Special, enlarged synapses for rapid synaptic transmission 
C) Giant brain structures for processing auditory information 
D) Special sensory structures that can detect signs of fire or burned wood Clarify question:

Question 10

What is the term for learning that occurs only during a brief period early in life and results in a behavior that is difficult to modify.

Accepted Answer

A) imprinting 
B) filial imprinting 
C) innate behavior 
D) instinct 
A) imprinting 
B) filial imprinting 
C) innate behavior 
D) instinct

Question 11

Male hummingbirds flash a patch of iridescent feathers on their neck called the gorget.This behavior makes them very visible.Why advertise their presence to a predator?

Accepted Answer

A) Hummingbirds are so fast that predation is not a large factor for them. 
B) Predators cannot see colors so are not alerted. 
C) The benefits of defending a territory exceed the costs of predation. 
D) This is an example of a maladaptive behavior that decreases overall fitness. Clarify question: 
A) Hummingbirds are so fast that predation is not a large factor for them. 
B) Predators cannot see colors so are not alerted. 
C) The benefits of defending a territory exceed the costs of predation. 
D) This is an example of a maladaptive behavior that decreases overall fitness. Clarify question:

Question 12

In an experiment studying predator and prey relationships, a scientist offers a naïve toad a bumblebee as food.The bee stings the toad when the toad tries to catch and eat the bee.Subsequent feeding trials with the toad reveal that the toad avoids feeding on bumblebees.This is a demonstration of

Accepted Answer

A) non-associative learning on the toad's part. 
B) associative learning on the toad's part. 
C) ultimate learning on the toad's part. 
D) proximate learning on the toad's part. 
A) non-associative learning on the toad's part. 
B) associative learning on the toad's part. 
C) ultimate learning on the toad's part. 
D) proximate learning on the toad's part.

Question 13

In species where the young are precocial, meaning requiring little parental care, males may be more likely to be what?

Accepted Answer

A) monogamous 
B) polygynous 
C) polyandrous 
D) altricial 
A) monogamous 
B) polygynous 
C) polyandrous 
D) altricial

Question 14

Which of the following statements best defines an altruistic act?

Accepted Answer

A) benefits the performer and another individual 
B) benefits another individual at some cost to the performer 
C) benefits another, related individual at some cost to the performer 
D) imposes a cost on the performer and another individual 
A) benefits the performer and another individual 
B) benefits another individual at some cost to the performer 
C) benefits another, related individual at some cost to the performer 
D) imposes a cost on the performer and another individual

Question 15

A behavior that has evolved to aid relatives, although at personal risk, and thus increases the chance of your genes being passed on to the next generation is known as

Accepted Answer

A) altricial behavior. 
B) instinctive behavior. 
C) kin selection. 
D) operant conditioning. 
A) altricial behavior. 
B) instinctive behavior. 
C) kin selection. 
D) operant conditioning.

Question 16

Which of the following is the best interpretation of the graph below of mussel size (x-axis) versus energy gain (line graph, left y-axis), and number of mussels eaten per day (histogram, right y-axis)?

Accepted Answer

A) Mussels are selected as food sources by crabs. 
B) Crabs select mussels in a way that maximizes their energy gain. 
C) Mussel size does not seem to be a good predictor as to which mussel hungry crabs will select. 
D) Crabs tend to consume most of the largest mussels. 
A) Mussels are selected as food sources by crabs. 
B) Crabs select mussels in a way that maximizes their energy gain. 
C) Mussel size does not seem to be a good predictor as to which mussel hungry crabs will select. 
D) Crabs tend to consume most of the largest mussels.

Question 17

Which of the following is an appropriate interpretation for these graphs?   Maternal care (as measured by minutes crouching over offspring and proportion of pups retrieved) in female mice that have the fosB allele is

Accepted Answer

A) less than the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele. 
B) greater than the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele. 
C) the same as the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele. 
D) less than the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele; however, the graphs depict only minor differences, which are most likely not significant. 
A) less than the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele. 
B) greater than the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele. 
C) the same as the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele. 
D) less than the maternal care given by female mice without the fosB allele; however, the graphs depict only minor differences, which are most likely not significant.

Question 18

In its youth, a pet parrot was owned by someone who kept the wings clipped and never allowed it to fly.Later in life, the new owner let the feathers grow and let the parrot fly around the house.But the parrot kept knocking over lamps and crashing into walls."Wow," said the owner, "I guess parrots are just too clumsy to fly around a house without destroying everything." What is an alternative explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) In nature, parrots have much more room to fly, and do not have to navigate around delicate home decor. 
B) Since the parrot was not able to practice flying during the critical period for flight development, the brain circuits for accurate flying were not able to develop. 
C) The parrot just needs more practice flying -- although it did not get to fly when young, this should not affect later ability. 
D) The critical period for flying development in the brain has just now begun with the bird's first attempt.In a few weeks the critical period will end, so it must practice during this time. Clarify question: 
A) In nature, parrots have much more room to fly, and do not have to navigate around delicate home decor. 
B) Since the parrot was not able to practice flying during the critical period for flight development, the brain circuits for accurate flying were not able to develop. 
C) The parrot just needs more practice flying -- although it did not get to fly when young, this should not affect later ability. 
D) The critical period for flying development in the brain has just now begun with the bird's first attempt.In a few weeks the critical period will end, so it must practice during this time. Clarify question:

Question 19

A friend of yours is wondering about the differences between the words orientation and navigation when these two terms are used in descriptions of bird migrations.Since you have studied and know something about animal behavior, what do you tell your friend?

Accepted Answer

A) Orientation is adjusting a bearing, while navigation is actually following a bearing. 
B) Orientation and navigation are used interchangeably when referring to avian migrations. 
C) Orientation is following a bearing, while navigation is setting or adjusting a bearing. 
D) Orientation is following the sun in the day as starling do, while navigation is following a bearing with a small amount of magnetite, which is found in the heads of some migratory birds. 
A) Orientation is adjusting a bearing, while navigation is actually following a bearing. 
B) Orientation and navigation are used interchangeably when referring to avian migrations. 
C) Orientation is following a bearing, while navigation is setting or adjusting a bearing. 
D) Orientation is following the sun in the day as starling do, while navigation is following a bearing with a small amount of magnetite, which is found in the heads of some migratory birds.

Exam 54: Behavioral Biology

What is the term for selection that favors altruism toward relatives?

Artificial selection and hybridization can demonstrate the __________ basis of behavior.

Which best describes the role of neurotransmitters in behavior?

Research has revealed that the development of psychological well-being and growth is influenced by what?

Konrad Lorenz demonstrated that newly hatched birds would direct their social behavior toward him if they saw him first after they hatched from their eggs.What is this called?

Haldane pointed out that if he received a certain allele, the chance that one of his brothers would receive that allele would be

Habituation belongs to which of the following types of learning?

The vertical dive of a moth for cover when it hears the ultrasound chirps of an approaching bat is an example of a(n)

Female fire beetles, Melanophilia sp., must seek out freshly-burned trees to lay their eggs in so the larvae can feed on the burned wood.What specialized neural structures might you expect these beetles to have to facilitate this behavior?

What is the term for learning that occurs only during a brief period early in life and results in a behavior that is difficult to modify.

Male hummingbirds flash a patch of iridescent feathers on their neck called the gorget.This behavior makes them very visible.Why advertise their presence to a predator?

In an experiment studying predator and prey relationships, a scientist offers a naïve toad a bumblebee as food.The bee stings the toad when the toad tries to catch and eat the bee.Subsequent feeding trials with the toad reveal that the toad avoids feeding on bumblebees.This is a demonstration of

In species where the young are precocial, meaning requiring little parental care, males may be more likely to be what?

Which of the following statements best defines an altruistic act?

A behavior that has evolved to aid relatives, although at personal risk, and thus increases the chance of your genes being passed on to the next generation is known as

Which of the following is the best interpretation of the graph below of mussel size (x-axis) versus energy gain (line graph, left y-axis), and number of mussels eaten per day (histogram, right y-axis)?

Which of the following is an appropriate interpretation for these graphs? Maternal care (as measured by minutes crouching over offspring and proportion of pups retrieved) in female mice that have the fosB allele is

A friend of yours is wondering about the differences between the words orientation and navigation when these two terms are used in descriptions of bird migrations.Since you have studied and know something about animal behavior, what do you tell your friend?

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