Exam 1 In class questions Flashcards
provide a hypothesis for why gulls remove their eggs from their nest
describe a simple experiment you could use to test that hypothesis
EXAMPLE:
Hypothesis- these birds remove shells because they like to keep the nest free of debris.
Experiment- Put random items in this nest and see if the bird would take it out and relate the items back to eggshells
Is behavior more important as a pre-zygotic or post-zygotic component of speciation?
A) pre-zygotic
B) neither
C) both
D) post-zygotic
A) pre-zygotic
Moths exhibit two different escape behaviors depending on how far away they are from an approaching bat. Why?
A) The two neurons in a moth’s ear are both very good at judging distance.
B) The two neurons in a moth’s ear differ in their sensitivity to sound.
C) The moth’s two ears each have a single but different auditory neuron.
A) A trait evolves that takes advantage of pre-existing sensitivity in a sensory system
How do you think an investigator’s interests, background, experience might influence the types of questions they ask about animal behavior, or how they interpret the results of their studies?
EXAMPLE:
The more an investigator is interested in the subject, the more they will want to know about it and put themselves in the specific topic’s shoes. Overall, everyone will interpret these things differently and the interests and experience will guide those opinions
The comparative method uses a phylogeny to correct for a lack of independence when you are comparing:
A) different species that vary in evolutionary history
B) different sexes of the same species
C) different age classes of the same species
A) different species that vary in evolutionary history
what is a behavior that can be measured quantitatively?
what is a behavior that is more qualitative to study?
EXAMPLE:
Quantitative- the number of eggs laid by a set of hens each day
Qualitative- does stress on the bird reduce the laying of hens
why do birds sing, is your answer proximate or ultimate
EXAMPLE:
to attract a mate
ultimate
Are behaviors caused by genes or the environment?
A) Most behaviors are determined by combination of both genes and the environment. In fact, that is not a very good question. What you should have asked is: How is variation in behavior shaped by genetic variation, environmental variation, and their interaction.
B) Mostly genes
C) Mostly the environment.
A) Most behaviors are determined by combination of both genes and the environment. In fact, that is not a very good question. What you should have asked is: How is variation in behavior shaped by genetic variation, environmental
A supernormal stimulus can be described as:
A) a normal trait that triggers an abnormally large response
B) a trait that is larger than normal, and very effective at triggering a behavior
C) a trait that does not exist, and therefore not effective at triggering a behavior
A) a normal trait that triggers an abnormally large response
why is genetic variation maintained is selection usually acts to decrease variation?
this genetic variation is maintained through mutations, gene flow, genetic drift, polygenic traits and environmental changes
moths exhibit two different escape behaviors depending on how far away they are from approaching a bat. Why?
A) the two neurons in a moth’s ear are both very good at judging distance
B) the two neurons in a moth’s ear differ in their sensitivity to sound
C) the moths two ears each have a single but different auditory neuron
B) the two neurons in a moth’s ear differ in their sensitivity to sound
which of the following best describes sensory bias?
A) a trait evolved that takes advantage of pre-existing sensitivity in a sensory system
B) a trait evolved that is not easily detected by an existing sensory system
C) a trait evolves that requires a change in a sensory system
A) a trait evolved that takes advantage of pre-existing sensitivity in a sensory system
what is the ultimate benefit of developmental plasticity in spadefoot toad tadpoles
EXAMPLES:
These tadpoles can change their flexibility and homeostasis in their traits depending on the environment. They can use this to their strength by increasing their fitness by changing their behavior as a response to the environment
At what point do most sensitive periods occur in an organism’s life?
A) midlife
B) occurs equally across the lifetime
C) early life
D) end of life
C) early life
what is the best definition of an “acceptance error” in the optimal threshold model?
A) A cue or signal that should be rejected, but is accepted because it falls to the left of the decision threshold
B) A cue or signal that should be accepted, but is rejected because it falls to the right of the decision threshold
A) A cue or signal that should be rejected, but is accepted because it falls to the left of the decision threshold
Which option would make more sense for an individual in the sympatric zone?
A) shift threshold to the left (be more selective)
B) shift threshold to the right (be less selective)
A) shift threshold to the left (be more selective)
Which of the following can shape a signal used for communication?
A) the receiver and their sensory system
B) The environment which can act as a filter either disrupting or amplifying certain signals
C) The production of the signal (e.g. costs associated with making it)
D) All of the above influence the characteristics of signals used for communication
D) All of the above influence the characteristics of signals used for communication
Provide an example of a signal and how it may be constrained by its production (the signaler), the environment, and the sensory system of the receiver.
A bird song can be restrained if a bird sings with specific notes that do travel through the environment well. For example, some notes will not travel in an open area compared to a wooded area. If a bird is constrained in a wooded area high in a tree it might not travel as well as it would being low on the ground. The environment of a wooded area would constrain some notes in this birds vocabulary where they would not be able to travel as far. The wooded area causing a constraint on the song would allow the receiver to not hear them and become attracted.
hearing is an example of which of the following sensory systems:
A) mechanoreception
B) photoreception
C) chemoreception
D) none of the aboce
A) mechanoreception
Do plants exhibit behavior? Why or why not?
Plants do exhibit behavior, but it is different from animal behavior. Even though plants do not have brains or nervous systems, they can still respond to their environment. They can experience and have tropisms, chemical signaling, and defense mechanisms. These behaviors are driven by biochemical and physiological processes.
design an experiment to test the hypothesis that androgens such as testosterone promote aggressiveness in starlings
EXAMPLE: In these starlings, we can have two separate groups of birds, one being injected with testosterone, and one controlled, where we do not inject testosterone. In this control group, we can block the receptor delivering testosterone to the body and determine if testosterone is causing aggression in starlings.
Design an experiment to test whether aggressiveness in starlings reflects organizational or activational effects of androgens.
EXAMPLE: Like in the previous experiment, we can have one control group and one testing group. In the control group, we will have the same sex birds be put in an environment that they are not familiar with and each starling has to claim areas of their own. In the second group, we will place different sexes of the birds together, but give the males a higher than normal testosterone count. During these groups, the environment will change seasons and these starlings will be tested each month; this to observe whether these effects are organization or activational.
