Question 1

When animals have displayed behaviors that appear very complex, behaviorists have generally concluded that

Accepted Answer

A)  animals make conscious decisions regarding costs and benefits. 
B)  animals think things through until they have developed an optimal plan of action. 
C)  that optimal "decision rules" are typically found only in species with considerable cognitive ability. 
D)  what may appear to be a complex behavior may be based on following a fairly simple strategy. 
A)  animals make conscious decisions regarding costs and benefits. 
B)  animals think things through until they have developed an optimal plan of action. 
C)  that optimal "decision rules" are typically found only in species with considerable cognitive ability. 
D)  what may appear to be a complex behavior may be based on following a fairly simple strategy. D

Question 2

Tinbergen painted some black-headed gull eggs white and then compared the predation rate on white eggs against that on natural, camouflaged, eggs. This is an example of which of the following approaches?

Accepted Answer

A)  monitoring in the field 
B)  optimality modeling 
C)  the comparative method 
D)  the experimental method 
A)  monitoring in the field 
B)  optimality modeling 
C)  the comparative method 
D)  the experimental method D

Question 3

A primary source of genetic variability is mutation. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism. 
B)  Mutations are more likely to influence structural genes than regulatory genes. 
C)  Somatic mutations can be passed on to offspring. 
D)  Variation produced by a mutation is almost always advantageous. 
A)  Mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism. 
B)  Mutations are more likely to influence structural genes than regulatory genes. 
C)  Somatic mutations can be passed on to offspring. 
D)  Variation produced by a mutation is almost always advantageous. A

Question 4

Male side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) come in three coat colors, orange, yellow, and blue. Orange throated males are very aggressive and defend large territories that include several females. Yellow throated males are "sneakers" who have no territory of their own, but mate covertly with unguarded females on an orange male's territory. Blue throated males defend territories that are big enough to hold only a single, well-guarded, female. In this mixed ESS

Accepted Answer

A)  blue beats both orange and yellow. 
B)  yellow beats blue, blue beats orange, and orange beats yellow. 
C)  yellow beats orange and blue. 
D)  yellow beats orange, blue beats yellow, and orange beats blue. 
A)  blue beats both orange and yellow. 
B)  yellow beats blue, blue beats orange, and orange beats yellow. 
C)  yellow beats orange and blue. 
D)  yellow beats orange, blue beats yellow, and orange beats blue.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural selection acts with the future of the species in mind. 
B)  Traits evolve in order to help a species survive. 
C)  Traits evolve only if they are favorable for the population as a whole. 
D)  Traits that increase an individual animal's fitness will become more frequent in the population. 
A)  Natural selection acts with the future of the species in mind. 
B)  Traits evolve in order to help a species survive. 
C)  Traits evolve only if they are favorable for the population as a whole. 
D)  Traits that increase an individual animal's fitness will become more frequent in the population.

Question 6

Brockmann and others (1979) studied female digger wasps' (Sphex ichneumoneus) alternative nesting strategies (digging her own nest or entering an existing burrow) and their outcomes. They found no significant difference between the reproductive successes of wasps using a dig strategy and wasps using an enter strategy. This indicates that the nesting strategies are

Accepted Answer

A)  a mixed ESS. 
B)  a pure ESS. 
C)  consciously planned. 
D)  frequency independent. 
A)  a mixed ESS. 
B)  a pure ESS. 
C)  consciously planned. 
D)  frequency independent.

Question 7

An individual who is "fit" must

Accepted Answer

A)  have a large body size. 
B)  have the well-being of the species in mind. 
C)  live to old age. 
D)  pass copies of its genes to the next generation. 
A)  have a large body size. 
B)  have the well-being of the species in mind. 
C)  live to old age. 
D)  pass copies of its genes to the next generation.

Question 8

A 30-year-long study by Grant and colleagues (1981; 1984) determined that during periods of drought, medium finches with medium beaks produced more offspring, while during rainy years birds with smaller beaks had the advantage. This study is an example of which method?

Accepted Answer

A)  monitoring in the field 
B)  optimality modeling 
C)  the comparative method 
D)  the experimental method 
A)  monitoring in the field 
B)  optimality modeling 
C)  the comparative method 
D)  the experimental method

Question 9

A diploid parent produces haploid gametes; thus, a parent that produces an offspring by sexual reproduction shares with that offspring

Accepted Answer

A)  an unpredictable fraction of its alleles. 
B)  only a random half of its alleles. 
C)  only the most adaptive half of its alleles. 
D)  the same half of its alleles as with other offspring. 
A)  an unpredictable fraction of its alleles. 
B)  only a random half of its alleles. 
C)  only the most adaptive half of its alleles. 
D)  the same half of its alleles as with other offspring.

Question 10

The hypothesis that territoriality in funnel-web spiders is adaptive was most clearly supported by the finding that

Accepted Answer

A)  territorial spiders grow to twice the body size of nonterritorial spiders. 
B)  territorial spiders have 13 times the reproductive potential of nonterritorial spiders. 
C)  web sites of territorial spiders have more abundant prey than web sites of nonterritorial spiders. 
D)  web sites of territorial spiders were bigger than web sites of nonterritorial spiders. 
A)  territorial spiders grow to twice the body size of nonterritorial spiders. 
B)  territorial spiders have 13 times the reproductive potential of nonterritorial spiders. 
C)  web sites of territorial spiders have more abundant prey than web sites of nonterritorial spiders. 
D)  web sites of territorial spiders were bigger than web sites of nonterritorial spiders.

Question 11

Genetic drift

Accepted Answer

A)  can be very important in large populations. 
B)  is a change in allele frequency that results from purely chance events. 
C)  is a direct result of natural selection. 
D)  all of the above. 
A)  can be very important in large populations. 
B)  is a change in allele frequency that results from purely chance events. 
C)  is a direct result of natural selection. 
D)  all of the above.

Question 12

Sometimes traits that we observe in a population appear not to be particularly adaptive. How is it possible for nonadaptive traits to exist?

Accepted Answer

A)  by being linked closely on the same chromosome to an adaptive gene 
B)  by means of pleiotropy 
C)  through gene flow 
D)  all of the above 
A)  by being linked closely on the same chromosome to an adaptive gene 
B)  by means of pleiotropy 
C)  through gene flow 
D)  all of the above

Question 13

Passing on copies of one's genes by parenting offspring of your own that survive and reproduce is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  direct fitness 
B)  inclusive fitness 
C)  indirect fitness 
D)  maximum fitness 
A)  direct fitness 
B)  inclusive fitness 
C)  indirect fitness 
D)  maximum fitness

Question 14

Natural selection operates

Accepted Answer

A)  directly on the genotype. 
B)  most strongly on traits that are acquired during an animal's lifetime. 
C)  on recessive alleles in heterozygous individuals 
D)  only on phenotype. 
A)  directly on the genotype. 
B)  most strongly on traits that are acquired during an animal's lifetime. 
C)  on recessive alleles in heterozygous individuals 
D)  only on phenotype.

Question 15

Antler size, age, and body size are all correlated with reproductive success among red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags. When appropriate statistical controls were applied, it was determined that ____ was NOT the primary factor.

Accepted Answer

A)  age 
B)  antler size 
C)  body size 
D)  a combination of age and body size 
A)  age 
B)  antler size 
C)  body size 
D)  a combination of age and body size

Question 16

When the environment changes we expect

Accepted Answer

A)  directional selection to occur. 
B)  stabilizing selection to occur. 
C)  the optimal phenotype to remain near the population's formerly adaptive average value. 
D)  the optimal phenotype to shift in a random manner. 
A)  directional selection to occur. 
B)  stabilizing selection to occur. 
C)  the optimal phenotype to remain near the population's formerly adaptive average value. 
D)  the optimal phenotype to shift in a random manner.

Question 17

An evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) would be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  an acquired behavioral pattern. 
B)  frequency dependent. 
C)  frequency independent. 
D)  nonadaptive. 
A)  an acquired behavioral pattern. 
B)  frequency dependent. 
C)  frequency independent. 
D)  nonadaptive.

Question 18

Tinbergen observed a seemingly nonadaptive behavior in black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), i.e., that the gull parent does not immediately remove broken eggshells from the nest. Further observations revealed that

Accepted Answer

A)  delaying shell removal reduced predation on still wet chicks by cannibalisitic neighbor gulls. 
B)  shell removal is only one behavioral option in an evolutionarily stable strategy. 
C)  the behavior is really neutral in its overall effect and only appeared maladaptive at first. 
D)  the behavior truly is nonadaptive, most likely the result of a pleiotropic effect. 
A)  delaying shell removal reduced predation on still wet chicks by cannibalisitic neighbor gulls. 
B)  shell removal is only one behavioral option in an evolutionarily stable strategy. 
C)  the behavior is really neutral in its overall effect and only appeared maladaptive at first. 
D)  the behavior truly is nonadaptive, most likely the result of a pleiotropic effect.

Question 19

We can assume that related species will have inherited some common genes because they have a common ancestor. If they live in different ecological conditions, however, they have experienced different selection pressures. Observed differences in their behavior, therefore, may be due to natural selection. This argument provides the rationale for which approach to the study of adaptiveness?

Accepted Answer

A)  monitoring in the field 
B)  optimality modeling 
C)  the comparative method 
D)  the experimental method 
A)  monitoring in the field 
B)  optimality modeling 
C)  the comparative method 
D)  the experimental method

Question 20

When environmental conditions are stable we expect

Accepted Answer

A)  an increase in the variation of the trait, i.e., the normal distribution to become wider. 
B)  individuals at the extreme ends of the normal distribution to do best. 
C)  the average phenotype to shift markedly. 
D)  the optimal phenotype to be near the population's average. 
A)  an increase in the variation of the trait, i.e., the normal distribution to become wider. 
B)  individuals at the extreme ends of the normal distribution to do best. 
C)  the average phenotype to shift markedly. 
D)  the optimal phenotype to be near the population's average.

When animals have displayed behaviors that appear very complex, behaviorists have generally concluded that

Tinbergen painted some black-headed gull eggs white and then compared the predation rate on white eggs against that on natural, camouflaged, eggs. This is an example of which of the following approaches?

A primary source of genetic variability is mutation. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

An individual who is "fit" must

A 30-year-long study by Grant and colleagues (1981; 1984) determined that during periods of drought, medium finches with medium beaks produced more offspring, while during rainy years birds with smaller beaks had the advantage. This study is an example of which method?

A diploid parent produces haploid gametes; thus, a parent that produces an offspring by sexual reproduction shares with that offspring

The hypothesis that territoriality in funnel-web spiders is adaptive was most clearly supported by the finding that

Genetic drift

Sometimes traits that we observe in a population appear not to be particularly adaptive. How is it possible for nonadaptive traits to exist?

Passing on copies of one's genes by parenting offspring of your own that survive and reproduce is referred to as

Natural selection operates

Antler size, age, and body size are all correlated with reproductive success among red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags. When appropriate statistical controls were applied, it was determined that ____ was NOT the primary factor.

When the environment changes we expect

An evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) would be described as

Tinbergen observed a seemingly nonadaptive behavior in black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), i.e., that the gull parent does not immediately remove broken eggshells from the nest. Further observations revealed that

When environmental conditions are stable we expect

Introduction

Approaches to the Study of Animal Behavior

Genetic Analysis of Behavior

Learning and Cognition

Physiological Analysis-Nerve Cells and Behavior

Physiological Analysis of Behavior- the Endocrine System

The Development of Behavior

Biological Clocks

Mechanisms of Orientation and Behavior

The Ecology and Evolution of Spiral Distribution

Foraging Behavior

Antipredator Behavior

Reproductive Behavior

Parental Care and Mating Systems

Communications: Channels and Functions

The Evolution of Communication

Conflict

Group Living, Altruism, and Cooperation

Filters

Exam 4: Natural Selection and Behavior

When animals have displayed behaviors that appear very complex, behaviorists have generally concluded that

Tinbergen painted some black-headed gull eggs white and then compared the predation rate on white eggs against that on natural, camouflaged, eggs. This is an example of which of the following approaches?

A primary source of genetic variability is mutation. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

An individual who is "fit" must

A 30-year-long study by Grant and colleagues (1981; 1984) determined that during periods of drought, medium finches with medium beaks produced more offspring, while during rainy years birds with smaller beaks had the advantage. This study is an example of which method?

A diploid parent produces haploid gametes; thus, a parent that produces an offspring by sexual reproduction shares with that offspring

The hypothesis that territoriality in funnel-web spiders is adaptive was most clearly supported by the finding that

Genetic drift

Sometimes traits that we observe in a population appear not to be particularly adaptive. How is it possible for nonadaptive traits to exist?

Passing on copies of one's genes by parenting offspring of your own that survive and reproduce is referred to as

Natural selection operates

Antler size, age, and body size are all correlated with reproductive success among red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags. When appropriate statistical controls were applied, it was determined that ____ was NOT the primary factor.

When the environment changes we expect

An evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) would be described as

Tinbergen observed a seemingly nonadaptive behavior in black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), i.e., that the gull parent does not immediately remove broken eggshells from the nest. Further observations revealed that

When environmental conditions are stable we expect

Introduction

Approaches to the Study of Animal Behavior

Genetic Analysis of Behavior

Learning and Cognition

Physiological Analysis-Nerve Cells and Behavior

Physiological Analysis of Behavior- the Endocrine System

The Development of Behavior

Biological Clocks

Mechanisms of Orientation and Behavior

The Ecology and Evolution of Spiral Distribution

Foraging Behavior

Antipredator Behavior

Reproductive Behavior

Parental Care and Mating Systems

Communications: Channels and Functions

The Evolution of Communication

Conflict

Group Living, Altruism, and Cooperation

Filters