Behavioural Ecology Practise Questions (Previous Years)

Question 1

Using real examples and relevant theory, explain why animals rarely fight to the death.

Question 2

What is a starling murmuration, and how does it form? Support your answer with concepts/theory/examples from collective behaviour.

Question 3

Describe how theoretical models of foraging behaviour can be used to understand the distribution of consumers. Use appropriate examples to support your answer.

Question 4

Why might primary sex ratios deviate from 0.5? Use real examples to illustrate your answer.

Question 5

What is parasitism, and how/why do some parasites influence host behaviour? Support your answers with theory and real examples.

Question 6

Even in monogamous mating systems males and females may be under selective pressure to seek extra-pair copulations (EPCs). With reference to names examples, explain why individuals may seek EPCs and the counter-strategies shown by their partners.

Question 7

Discuss the meaning of animal communication and provide a useful definition of the term, explain how and why animals communicate.

Question 8

Describe how theoretical models of foraging behaviour can be used to understand the distribution of consumers. Use appropriate examples to support your answer.

Question 9

Explain how consistent between individual differences in behaviour might result in different levels/types of parasitic infection. Discuss the implications of this for group living animals, supporting your answer with theory and real examples.

Question 10

Why are non-injurious contests more common than outright fights? Use relevant theory and real examples to explain your answer.

Question 11

Host birds frequently eject the eggs of cuckoos but will invest heavily in the care of cuckoo nestlings. Critically evaluate the hypotheses that explain these behaviours.

Question 12

Using relevant theory and examples from lectures and the literature, compare and contrast the costs and benefits of group living for predators and prey.

Question 13

To what extent can fighting without injuries be an evolutionary stable strategy? Support your answer with theory and real examples.

Question 14

Under what circumstances can the reproductive behaviour of females be more like the behaviour normally associated with males? Use examples to illustrate your answer.

Question 15

Parents and their offspring are often in behavioural and evolutionary conflict. With reference to relevant theoretical models, discuss why this conflict arises.

Question 16

Some birds and mammals breed cooperatively. With reference to the main models , assess the costs and benefits of helping at the nest.

Question 17

Discuss the theoretical models for the evolution of lek mating behaviour and the evidence for each model.