learning

Question 1

what does learning exclude

Answer 1

changes with time due to

• maturation
• changes in motivation

Question 2

Which of the following are true of Charnov’s 1976 marginal value theorem?
I. The theorem computes the value of field margins
II. The theorem assumes that an animal maximises its net rate of obtaining energy
III. The theorem predicts when animals should leave patches

a. I
b. II
c. III
d. I and II
e. II and III

Answer 2

c

Question 3

behaviour is learnt if…

Answer 3

it changes as a result of experience

Question 4

define innate behaviour

Answer 4

behaviours which do not change as a result of experience

Question 5

what did behaviorism have to say about learning

Answer 5

everything in the mind was the result of associative learning

Question 6

if the optimal response is the same in every generation then the behaviour is ______

Answer 6

innate

Question 7

2 types of associative learning

Answer 7

1. classical conditioning

2. operant conditioning

Question 8

define classical conditioning

Answer 8

animals learn to respond to particular stimuli after experiencing the world around them.

Question 9

what is operant conditioning also called

Answer 9

‘trail and error’ learning

Question 10

operant conditioning definition

Answer 10

animals learn to respond to particular stimuli after experiencing the consequences of their actions

Question 11

conclusion to Bonnie’s experiment

Answer 11

Chimps can and do learn arbitrary conventions from the dominant female in their group

Question 12

social learning definition

Answer 12

learn by copying others

Question 13

insight learning

Answer 13

learn through understanding (insight)

Question 14

behaviour is _____ or _______ in response to environmental cues

Answer 14

innate

controlled by hormones

Question 15

optimal response to a stimulus may vary predictably with an environmental cue

Answer 15

environmental cue such as day length or the lunar cycle

Question 16

if behaviour varies due to environmental cue then behaviour is controlled proximally by ______

Answer 16

hormones triggered by an environmental cue

Question 17

give an example of behaviour triggered by hormones

Answer 17

onset of breeding in birds and horseshoe crabs

Question 18

does the optimal response to a stimulus vary within or between generations?

Answer 18

yes- only be acquired by learning them

Question 19

associative learning definition

Answer 19

They learn to associate responses with particular stimuli e.g. food and smell

Question 20

crocodiles use _____ for hunting

Answer 20

tools e.g. sticks

Question 21

conclusion to kreb’s experiment

Answer 21

• Great tits sample longer the more similar the reward rates in the two food dispensers.
• The longer the birds are going to forage, the longer they spend sampling before exploiting the better food dispenser.

Question 22

bonnie’s experiment

Answer 22

2 groups of chimps
- each dominant female was taught to either post a token in a pipe to obtain a banana or Post a token in a letter box to obtain a banana

Question 23

what did the elephant do to get food out- of- reach overhead?

Answer 23

moved plastic cube into position, stood on it, and obtained the food
insight learning

Question 24

oystercatchers and their food

social learning

Answer 24

The offspring developed the same skill as their foster parent. So the skill is learnt from the parents.
adults specialise variously in shore crabs or earthworms or mussels

Question 25

what did female crow do when faced with a straight wire and food at bottom of bucket

Answer 25

bent wire to make a hook

Question 26

Two optimal foraging hypotheses as to what birds might do:-

Answer 26

1. Immediate maximizing.

Birds assume patch reward rates constant during the experiment and maximise total intake during their time in the aviary. So they should sample the feeders first, then exploit whichever is better.

Question 27

krebs experiment

Answer 27

great tits tested one at a time in an aviary containing two food dispensers paying out on random schedules.

Question 28

techniques of hunting e.g. . humpback whales whacking water with fluke to concentrate prey prior to bubble feeding is which sort of learning

Answer 28

social

Question 29

conclusion of krebs experiment

Answer 29

spend time hopping then stop and chose most profitable food dispenser