Animal Behavior

Question 1

Behavioral Ecology

Answer 1

Study of how behavior contributes to differential survival and reproduction in organisms

Question 2

2 Causes of Behavior:

Answer 2

Proximate Causes and Ultimate Causes

Question 3

Proximate Causes of Behavior

Answer 3

Genetic or physiological mechanisms for behavior; also how environmental stimuli influence behavior in the moment.

Question 4

Ultimate Causes of Behavior

Answer 4

How behaviors contribute to reproductive success and natural selection.

Question 5

Migration

Answer 5

seasonal long distance change in location

Question 6

3 Types of Migration

Answer 6

Piloting, Orientation, and Navigation

Question 7

Migration: Piloting

Answer 7

Animal uses landmarks, visual cues; needs to be short distances and daytime

Question 8

Migration: Orientation

Answer 8

Animal uses Earth’s magnetic field or the sun/stars to find direction

Question 9

Migration: Navigation

Answer 9

Orientation along compass lines, and find their location relative to destination (e.g: pigeons)

Question 10

Types of signals (4)

Answer 10

Visual, Auditory, Chemical, Tactile

Question 11

Optimality theory

Answer 11

animals will tend toward the behavior that maximizes benefits while reducing costs.

Question 12

Innate Behaviors

Answer 12

developmentally fixed behaviors, do not vary

Question 13

Fixed Action Plans

Answer 13

unlearned responses to stimuli; once initiated, the behavior will go to completion.

Question 14

Sign stimuli stickle back fish example

Answer 14

Stickle back fish will respond to red belly only, regardless of whether or not it is a fish shape

Question 15

Cross Fostering Studies

Answer 15

can determine which traits are due to nature, and which to nurture, must be between two fairly similar species

Question 16

Learning

Answer 16

modification of behavior based on specific experience

Question 17

Imprinting

Answer 17

learning becomes innate; occurs during a sensitive period.

Question 18

2 Types of Associative Learning

Answer 18

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov) and Operant conditioning (trial and error learning)

Question 19

Social Learning

Answer 19

Learning from the observation of others.

Question 20

2 Social Learning primate examples

Answer 20

chimps learn how to break open seeds, vervet monkeys must learn the culture calls to alert predators

Question 21

Spatial Learning example

Answer 21

Female digger wasp can no longer find her nest if the exact landmarks surrounding it are moved.

Question 22

Mating Systems: Polygamy Types

Answer 22

Polygny- one male with many females; Polyandry- one female with many males.

Question 23

If offspring are likely to need a continuous supply of food…the couple will be (monogamous/polygamous)

Answer 23

If offspring are likely to need a continuous supply of food… the couple will be monogamous.

Question 24

If offspring are not likely to need a continuous supply of food… the couple will be (monogamous/polygamous)

Answer 24

If offspring are not likely to need a continuous supply of food… the couple will be polygamous.

Question 25

Certainty of Paternity ___ with internal fertilization

Answer 25

Decreases

Question 26

Certainty of Paternity ___ with external fertilization

Answer 26

Increases

Question 27

If animal species are monogamous they will look…

Answer 27

like they have the same morphology

Question 28

If animal species exhibit polygny, then …(looks)

Answer 28

The males will normally be more showy looking.

Question 29

If animal species exhibit polyandry, then…(looks)

Answer 29

The females will normally be more showy looking.

Question 30

Sexual Dimorphism

Answer 30

differences in the appearance of the sexes

Question 31

Intersexual Selection

Answer 31

members of one sex choose mates on the basis of traits: size, color, ornamentation

Question 32

Intrasexual Selection

Answer 32

competition between members of the same sex for mates (antler example)

Question 33

Game Theory

Answer 33

Analyzing the costs and benefits of a group working together or independently.

Question 34

Frequency Dependent Selection

Answer 34

Rock Paper Scissors Example: The success of each strategy depends on frequency of each strategy.