Deck 17: The Biosphere and Behavioural Ecology

Question 1

The learning that is limited to a specific time period in an animal's life that is generally irreversible is called

A) the sensitive period.
B) habituation learning.
C) imprinting.
D) social learning.

Answer 1

imprinting.

Question 2

Which of the following techniques was not used by Conservation biologists raising whooping cranes?

A) familiarizing whooping crane eggs with the sound of a plane engine
B) caretakers dressed as whooping cranes while feeding the chicks
C) a whooping crane puppet to guide them through exercises
D) using a whooping crane puppet on a plane to lead them in their migratory route

Answer 2

caretakers dressed as whooping cranes while feeding the chicks

Question 3

Many animals have complex cognitive abilities. One of these abilities which is discussed in this chapter is

A) foraging.
B) use of opposable thumb.
C) language as a use of communication.
D) problem solving.

Answer 3

problem solving.

Question 4

The endocrine disrupters that are in birth control pills taken by humans can have an environmental impact by

A) altering the reproductive and courting behaviours of some male fish and frogs.
B) altering the dietary habits of some freshwater fish.
C) altering the reproductive behaviours of some female fish and frogs.
D) altering the reproductive behaviours of some woodland animals.

Question 5

After reading the paragraph below, answer the question that follows.
You are sitting in lecture trying to pay close attention to every word that your professor speaks. You understand that she is exceptionally intelligent and, after this course, you may never have another opportunity to hear her speak. Maddeningly, the person sitting beside you is biting their fingernails and the constant click-clicking noise is distracting you. Eventually though, you stop noticing and find that you can concentrate. Then, the person begins to crack their knuckles.

-What type of learning response was at play when you stopped noticing the initial behaviour of fingernail biting?

A) imprinting
B) accommodation
C) association
D) habituation

Question 6

What is DDT and why was it used?

A) a pesticide used to limit disease-causing insect populations
B) a chemical used in plastics
C) a chemical used to produce electronics
D) a pesticide used to promote crop growth

Question 7

Which of the following would represent an example of natural selection?

A) a wolf
B) a Yorkshire terrier
C) a poodle
D) a German Shepard

Question 8

In an aquatic environment, the top 200 metres or so where light can penetrate is called the ________ zone.

A) benthic
B) trophic
C) photic
D) biotic

Question 9

After reading the paragraph below, answer the question that follows.
Akiak is an Inuit fisherman. He noticed that on the coldest days of winter, which are below -30°C, the fish he catches from the Arctic Ocean are freezing as soon as he brings them to the surface. This seems puzzling, since these fish are known to produce antifreeze proteins.

-Why are the fish freezing in air?

A) because even when air temperature is -30°C, water temperature in the Arctic Ocean never falls below -2°C and the antifreeze is effective at that temperature
B) because the specific heat capacity of air is greater than that of water
C) because the thermal conductivity of air is greater than that of water, so it pulls heat out of the fish more quickly
D) because the fish are caught singly and therefore are not able to huddle together as they do in water to stay warm