Midterm 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Taxon

A

a taxonomic unit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is Taxonomy?

A

a branch of science concerned with the classification of organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is thermoregulation?

A

the process of allowing your body to remain its core internal temperature. this is helpful to Reptiles but costly in terms of energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

physiology drives ______

A

behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is a phenotype?

A

used to determine classification; a set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

whats so special about about newts?

A

they have stages on the land and then they go back to the water, they are the only amphibian to do this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what did amphibians evolve from?

A

they evolved from Dipnomorphia or Lungfish

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

where is the pineal gland of birds and reptiles?

A

on the top of the brain, unlike humans where it is deep inside the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is Aves?

A
birds. a big class with alot of subgroups. some (ravens, crows and magpies) have very sophisticated social behaviour.
Corvios, psittacios and sturnids are very good at imitating sound
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

describe Mammal

A

only animals to breast feed children, 3 sub-groups (prototheria, maeatheria {marsupials}, Eutheria [placentals])

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is prototheria?

A

ones with eggs, show connection to reptiles; 1 order; ex. platypus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what are Methatheria?

A

marsupials; rodent lke and carnivore like marsupials; 7 orders. ex. Possums

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what are Eutheria?

A

placentals. come from placenta, most mammals; 18 orders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is the current classification of primates?

A

strepsirhini (nocturnal e.g., lemurs) & haplorhini (monkeys and apes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the current classification of carnivores?

A

dog-like (e.g., bears) & Cat-like (e.g., hyenas)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is the current classification of rodents (rodentia)?

A

squirrel-like and mouse-like

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

who is the Father of Behaviourism?

A

Watson who worked with baby Albert

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what do behaviourists believe in?

A

behaviourists believe in learning; teaching animals how to perform certain acts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is cognitivism?

A

similar to nature v. nurture; not as concerned about being uptight about behaviour. Believe in the information theory. biologists used to dismiss cognitivism, claimed it had nothing to do with biology.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is cognitive ethology?

A

created by Griffin who was interested in beavers because they started covering noise making devices, showing that this behaviour is innate. cognitive ethology focuses on consciousness and mind.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is homoplasy?

A

convergent evolution ex. wings developing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what two sciences contribute to animal behaviour?

A

psychology and psychology. anthropology also contributes to the field (Primatology and Anthrozoology)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what are the three branches within biology that contribute to animal behaviour?

A

ethology, sociobiology and behavioural ecology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

describe sociobiology

A

introduced by E. O. Wilson; took ethology, evolved genetics and social behaviour all together to create sociobiology. not used as often now, due to race and gender issues that arose in the 60s-70s

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what is Forensic Entomology?

A

looks at what kinds of insects/larvae are on dead bodies in order to determine how long the body has been there (hours or days). uses sexton/burying beetles and carrion beetles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

what is special about Possums?

A

only marsupials in north america

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

in relation to FAP, what do neuroethologists look at?

A

IRM; the mechanism in the brain that triggers FAP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

in relation to FAP what do ethologists focus on?

A

SS and FAP; not so much IRM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

who trained pigeons for the US Army

A

skinner trained pigeons to drop missiles, they pecked a dot on a screen to get trained

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

what animal is used to study concussions

A

Rams and Woodpeckers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

describe Ethology

A

systematic and direct observation and description of animals in their natural or seminatural environment. study of overt (observable) behaviours. inductive and idiographic approaches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

what are the main criticisms of ethology?

A

no experimental control and neglect of overt behaviours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

what is an idiographic approach?

A

small n or n of 1 research. generalizations from few observations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

what FAP do Geese have?

A

Lorenz and Timbergen would take eggs from geese as they started to pull the egg towards them, they would continue to pull the egg even tho it is no longer there

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

describe the sequence of a fixed action pattern

A

sign stimulus -> innate releasing mechanism -> FAP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

what is the difference between a reflex and a FAP

A

reflexes are simple motor actions, elicited by a sensory stimulus.
FAP’s are a complex motor act, involving a temporal sequence of component acts; generated by an internally or elicited sensory trigger
ex. mauthner’s cell response (fish fleeing danger)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

what is the grasp “reflex”

A

a misnamed FAP for babies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

what are the characteristics of FAP’s

A
genetically encoded
specific to a situation/stimuli/environment spontaneous 
no sensory feedback 
ballistic movements 
independent of immediate control 
no individual differences 
spontaneous
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

who came up with the idea of Modal patterns (MAPs)

A

Barlow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

what is larder hoarding?

A

hoarding or hiding food near the home (den,nest,burrow)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

what is scatter hoarding?

A

hiding food in scattered areas

42
Q

how do voles cach?

A

they typically take the food, look around, forget it

43
Q

what are morphs?

A

different appearances of the same species

44
Q

what 6 types of parental care is recognized in amphibians?

A
  • egg attendance
  • egg transport
  • tadpole attendance
  • tadpole transport
    tadpole feeding
    internal gestation in the oviduct
45
Q

describe the olfaction of amphibians

A

nasolabial groove, nose tapping response

46
Q

describe the reproduction of amphibians

A

4-17 eggs laid from may to june. eggs hatch in august or september

47
Q

what are basic issues of observational research?

A

very hard to find a pattern in the occurrence of monogamy
differential observability:species, groups, individuals
identification of subjects

48
Q

what are reproductive isolating mechanisms

A
  • chromosomal: non-viable/sterile hybrids
  • mechanical: morphological incompatibilities
  • incompatible reproductive rhythms
  • ecological: habitat incompatibilities
  • behavioural: specific recognition system
49
Q

what is evolution?

A

a change in frequency of alleles in a population over generations

50
Q

what are the three foundations of animal behaviour?

A
  • natural selection
  • individual learning
  • cultural transmission: social learning that will become transgenerational
51
Q

what are the 4 main forces of change in the evolution of behaviour?

A
  1. mutations
  2. gene flow: exhange of genes between populations of a species
  3. genetic drift: specific traits get over emphasized and you get something radically different from what you would find on the main land
  4. natural selection: fir or not fit; not fit features get dropped. need a passive agent (environment) and a selective agent (nature). need a trait that allows reproduction and survival
52
Q

what is indirect fitness?

A

when you have more environmental constraints you compete, mormota get social instead; darwainian was too focused on competition

53
Q

what are the 3 types of direct fitness?

A
  • traits improving chances of survival
  • correlated traits
  • sexual selection
54
Q

what does Gould believe about Neoteny?

A

Gould believes that humans unconsciously and naturally seeking neoteny. his example was the evolution of mickey mouse since its creation (juvenilization)

55
Q

describe lorenz on neoteny

A

feautures of juvinility act as IRMs for affection and nurtiring in adult humans. neotenic characteristics are designed to trigger oxytocin release in adults.

56
Q

what is heterochrony?

A

changes in time and order of developmental events. in dogs we have slowed down development.

57
Q

how is heterochrony applied to candids?

A

-changes in the time of onset of developmental stages
- changes in the rate of developmental stages
- changes in the number of developmental changes
less or slow = paedomorphosis
more or fast = peramorphosis

58
Q

what does Morey believe about dogs?

A

believes that dogs are paedomorphoc (compared to wolves)

59
Q

describe socialization period of wolves and dogs

A

domestication: extension of the period of socialization of wolves
dogs between 8 and 12 weeks fear the unfamiliar = sensitive period

60
Q

why are foxes able to be domesticated?

A

foxes contain higher levels of serotonin and of tryptophan hydroxlase
inhibited adrenal response to stress

61
Q

where do scientific names come from?

A

they come from latin and greek languages. universal

62
Q

ducks are precocial. True or false?

A

True. they are no helpless when they are born

63
Q

true or false goats are precocial?

A

True. will walk straight away and can see

64
Q

true or false Cats are precocial?

A

false. cats are altricial, can not see when they are born and lack senses

65
Q

true or false behaviour is a phenotype?

A

true

66
Q

what is Morton’s law?

A

high pitch = good vocalization intentions

Low pitch = bad vocalization intentions

67
Q

what is heterochrony?

A

changes in rate/time of development

68
Q

what are challenges to basic principles of natural selection?

A

adoption, reciprocal altruism (non-kin), homosexual behaviour, risk taking behaviour, symbiosis

69
Q

how do mammals imprint?

A

they imprint w/ olfaction

70
Q

how do birds imprint?

A

visually

71
Q

what are facilitating factors (Hale)?

A

gregarity (no hierarchy within groups)
imprint
precociality (more likely to imprint)
paternal care or at least permanent presence around

72
Q

what is taxonomy?

A

the theories and techniques of naming, describing and classifying organisms

73
Q

what is taxinomy?

A

the study of the laws of classification

74
Q

what is taxionomy?

A

application of the principles of taxinomy

75
Q

why would people study animal behaviour?

A

interest in species/taxon
interest in processes
interest in patterns
interest in broad questions

76
Q

what are some approaches in animal behaviour?

A

conceptual
empirical
theoretical

77
Q

who are major figures of the school of behaviourism?

A

Watson and Skinner

78
Q

ethology is historically __________

A

inductive (observations, theory making)

79
Q

who are the fathers of sociobiology?

A

williams, hamilton, Maynard Smith, Triver, Wilson, Dawkins

80
Q

what is Moynihan’s perspective of behavioural ecology and ethology?

A

behavioural ecology: strategies and environment

ethology: tactics and behaviours

81
Q

what are behaviour classification biases?

A

behavioural ecology: functions of behaviour

ethology: forms (ethogram), mechanisms and origins of behaviours

82
Q

what are supernormal stimuli?

A

models (often larger ones) that can evoke a stronger response

83
Q

describe stickleback sign stimuli

A

bolated belly of females stimulates reproductive behaviour and red belly of another male stimulates agression

84
Q

what are amphibologic behaviours?

A

behaviours or behavioural categories that are ambiguous

85
Q

what is a congeneric study?

A

studying species from the same genus

86
Q

what did Barash find in his study of marmots?

A

when less food avail. young will take longer to grow and mature, colonial system an advantage in cases of low food, aggressiveness is a key factor for dispersion

87
Q

what is an ethogram?

A

a catalogue of different behaviours

88
Q

what is direct development?

A

no larval stage, eggs hatch into small salamanders

89
Q

what is natural selection?

A

species level adaptations

90
Q

what is individual learning?

A

individual-level adaptations; experience

91
Q

what are the two ingredients for natural selection?

A

trait (phenotype) ex. speed that are favoured and help the organism
selective agent ex. nature

92
Q

what are the prerequisites for natural selection to operate on a trait?

A

variation
fitness
mode of inheritance
limited resources

93
Q

what are 3 types of direct fitness?

A
  1. traits improving survival
  2. correlated traits
  3. traits emanating from sexual selection
94
Q

what is artificial selection?

A

selective breeding. Humans selexting traits. ex. breeding border collies

95
Q

what is Kin Selection?

A

from Hamilton. individuals differ in their effects on the survival of their kin via their parental care/ helping behaviour. special case of trait/group selection. ability to know one’s kin -> MHC complex, uses sense of smell

96
Q

what did E.O Wilson believe about kin selection?

A

kin selection > group selection

97
Q

what did D.s Wilson believe?

A

reciprocal altruism exists as well as kinship altruism. depends on conditions

98
Q

what are the levels of evolution?

A
gene level
gamete level
individual level
mating pair level
immediate
99
Q

what did lorenz believe about neoteny?

A

features of juvenility act as IRMs for affection and nurturing in adult humans. we judge animals based on juvenility. we observe head, eyes, chin.

100
Q

what did Gould say about By-products of adaptations?

A

by-products of adaptations or “carry along traits”. traits that are not necessarily selected for or against. they’re just there. ex. tail bone, appendix
language is a by product of our large brains
hard to localize where it came from

101
Q

what is progressive fallacy?

A

some species have had more evolutionary changes than others, that does not necessarily make them better. not all changes are optimal

102
Q

who is Eibl-Eibesfeldt?

A

studied FAPs in red quirrels, found that red squirrels will still go through with the action of hiding a nut even if there is no ground to dig through