Deck 36: Animal Behavior

Question 1

How do experimental approaches of comparative psychology and ethology differ Comment on the aims and methods employed by each.

Answer 1

The experimental approach of comparative psychology is to study one species in the laboratory and compare with other animals while in ethology the experimental approach is to study the behavior of the animal in field studies.
The aim of comparative psychology is to compare general characteristics of many species. This is done by studying one species and then comparing the same behavior in other species.
On the other hand, the aim of ethology is to describe the behavior of an animal in its natural habitat. This is done by field studies and observations.

Question 2

Early efforts by humans to communicate vocally with chimpanzees were almost total failures; however, researchers have learned how to communicate successfully with apes. How was this task accomplished

Answer 2

Researchers have learnt how to communicate successfully with apes using sign language. The American Sign Language was first used by researchers.

Question 3

Egg-retrieval behavior of greylag geese is an excellent example of a highly predictable behavior. Interpret this behavior within the framework of classical ethology, using these terms: releaser, sign stimulus, and stereotyped behavior. Interpret the territorial defense behavior of male three-spined sticklebacks in the same context.

Answer 3

Egg-retrieval behavior:
In this case the releaser is the egg or any object and the sign stimulus is the presence of the object outside the nest. The stereotyped behavior seen is the egg-retrieval behavior shown by mother birds towards any object placed in the vicinity of the nest.
Territorial defense behavior of male three-spined sticklebacks:
In this case the releaser is another male or any object in its territory and the sign stimulus is the presence of red color on the object. The stereotyped behavior seen is the attacking of the object or fish.

Question 4

The idea that behavior must be either innate or learned has been called a "nature versus nurture" controversy. What reasons are there for believing that such a strict dichotomy does not exist

Question 5

Two kinds of simple learning are habituation and imprinting. Distinguish these two types of learning, and offer an example of each.

Question 6

Some strains of bees show hygienic behavior by uncapping cells containing larvae infected with a bacterial disease called foulbrood and removing the dead larvae from the hive. What evidence shows that this behavior is transmitted by two independently segregating genes

Question 7

Discuss some advantages of sociality for animals. If social living has so many advantages, why do many animals successfully live alone

Question 8

Suggest why aggression, which might seem counterproductive, exists among social animals.

Question 9

What is the selective advantage to winners, as well as to losers, that aggressive encounters within species for social dominance are usually ritualized displays or symbolic fights rather than unrestrained fights to death

Question 10

Of what use is a territory to an animal, and how is a territory established and kept What is the difference between territory and home range

Question 11

Polygyny is a form of polygamy in which a male mates with more than one female. Explain how three forms of polygyny differ from each other: resource-defense polygyny, female-defense polygyny, and male-dominance polygyny.

Question 12

Give an example of an altruistic behavior and explain how such behavior conflicts with Darwin's expectation that animals should act selfishly to produce as many offspring as possible.

Question 13

Earlier explanations of altruistic behavior as a form of group selection have been supplanted by Hamilton's hypothesis of kin selection. What distinguishes kin selection and how does it accord with the notion of inclusive fitness, the relative number of an individual's alleles that pass to the next generation

Question 14

How does reciprocal altruism contrast with kin selection as an explanation of apparently altruistic behavior What evidence from vampire bats supports reciprocal altruism

Question 15

Comment on limitations of animal communication compared to those of human communication.

Question 16

Dance language used by returning forager honey bees to specify location of food is an example of remarkably complex communication among "simple" animals. How is direction and distance information coded into the waggle dance of the bees What is the purpose of the round dance

Question 17

What is meant by "ritualization" in display communication What is the adaptive significance of ritualization