Integrative Study of Animal Behavior

Question 1

evolution

Answer 1

the change in gene frequency within a population

Question 2

how can evolution be affected?

Answer 2

by mutation, migration, genetic drift, natural and sexual selection

Question 3

natural selection

Answer 3

the process that occurs when individuals differ in their traits and the differences are correlated with differences in reproductive success

Question 4

how does natural selection affect evolutionary change?

Answer 4

the differences in traits that are inheritable can result in natural selection and lead to evolutionary changes

Question 5

what are the 3 conditions for evolution to occur by natural selection

Answer 5

1. variation - differ in particular characteristics in a population
2. heredity - parents are able to pass on their distinctive characteristics to their offspring
3. differences in reproductive success

Question 6

does natural selection act on individuals or groups? conscious or unconscious?

Answer 6

primarily on individuals, unconscious

Question 7

what did Hanuman Langur monkeys do?

Answer 7

infanticide by male langur monkeys
(when dominant male of a group is replaced, the new dominant male spends time and energy to kill the infants

Question 8

why do the new dominant male langur monkeys take the risk? (hypothesis)

Answer 8

1. social pathology - overcrowding in areas where they are fed by humans (non-evolutionary)
2. population regulation - prevent langur group from becoming too big (evolutionary - group selection)
3. quicker reproduction - infanticide boosts reproductive success of new dominant male as its mother might resume her reproductive cycle sooner (evolutionary - individual selection)

Question 9

does the social pathology, population regulation, and quicker reproduction hypothesis make sense?

Answer 9

no: social pathology and population regulation
- if the hypothesis was true, this should only happen in areas with high density
yes: quicker reproduction
- enhance reproductive success

Question 10

what are the steps for scientific method?

Answer 10

observation -> question -> hypothesis -> prediction -> test (experiment) -> theory after many test and continue testing

Question 11

what are the ultimate levels of analysis in behavior?

Answer 11

phylogeny and function

Question 12

what are the proximate levels of analysis in behavior?

Answer 12

development and immediate causation

Question 13

homology

Answer 13

trait shared by 2+ species due to a shared ancestor

Question 14

homoplasy

Answer 14

trait shared by 2+ species due to natural selection acting independently on each species
e.g. convergent evolution in wing structure

Question 15

what is the difference between hypothesis and prediction?

Answer 15

hypothesis: broad statement/idea
prediction: specific testable observation

Question 16

what are the pros and cons of experimental method of studying animal behavoir?

Answer 16

pros: can have more controls and manipulate
cons: hard to draw conclusion since the environment is different

Question 17

convergent evolution

Answer 17

distinct ancestry but shared behavior

Question 18

divergent evolution

Answer 18

shared ancestry but divergent behavior (different selection pressures)

Question 19

what stage does song sparrow birds learn?

Answer 19

early stage (10-50 days) - sensitive/critical period for learning

Question 20

where is the song output for motor control?

Answer 20

patterned in HVC, which projects to RA

Question 21

what is RA in song birds?

Answer 21

it is the robust nucleus of the arcopallium which projects pattern from HVC to brainstem nXllts that controls vocal organ

Question 22

where is the auditory information sent to for learning?

Answer 22

IMAN and Area X in the anterior forebrain

Question 23

what happens if there is lesion in IMAN of an adult song bird?

Answer 23

no affect because IMAN is for leaning and adult birds have already learned about to sing

Question 24

what happens if the bird didn’t learn to sing at early stage?

Answer 24

IMAN may not develop

Question 25

what transcription factor are involved in learning songs?

Answer 25

ZENK regulates expression of other genes

Question 26

which region is ZENK expressed when birds hear conspecific songs?

Answer 26

regions related to auditory perception

Question 27

how does ZENK regulate genes related to synapse formation?

Answer 27

it alters connectivity between neurons and different brain regions

Question 28

how are male and female zebra finches (song birds) different?

Answer 28

• male sings while female doesn’t
• RA is significantly larger
• number of HVC neurons is significantly greater in male and gradually decreases in female

Question 29

phylogeny

Answer 29

evolution history

Question 30

what could be the function of song learning?

Answer 30

could be evolved by natural selection -> increases reproductive success

Question 31

how does song learning increase fitness?

Answer 31

repel intruders or attract mates

Question 32

why would females prefer some songs over others?

Answer 32

• songs may tell females about their health or genetic quality
• preferred songs may be associated with greater parasite resistance, better parental ability, better health

Question 33

what are the proximate causes in levels of analysis?

Answer 33

development and cause

Question 34

how much energy are used for nerve tissues?

Answer 34

~20% daily calories

Question 35

how would nutrient deficiency/restriction affect song birds?

Answer 35

it could affect their significantly affect their learning

Question 36

how do female differentiate male’s development/fitness?

Answer 36

food restriction during development would affect male’s singing and have a bad copy of the song