Deck 1: Introduction to Primate Studis

Question 1

Most diurnal primates are also:

A) Social
B) Solitary
C) Nocturnal
D) Cathemeral

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Energy minimizers tend to spend more time than energy maximizers:

A) Resting
B) Searching for food
C) Feeding on fruit
D) Traveling

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is not an appropriate dietary category for primates:

A) Frugivore
B) Folivore
C) Carnivore
D) Insectivore

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Territoriality in primates:

A) Refers to groups with overlapping home ranges
B) Is a fixed attribute of those species in which it occurs
C) Is associated with short day ranges relative to home range size
D) Is highly variable depending on population and food densities

Question 5

In fission-fusion societies, individuals:

A) Travel in cohesive groups year-round
B) Split up into smaller parties and reunite periodically
C) Are all closely related to one another
D) Prefer abundant foods, such as leaves, available year-round

Question 6

Male-biased dispersal and matrilocal societies:

A) Characterize the societies of chimpanzees and other apes
B) Are found in all primates
C) Are common among Old World baboons and macaques
D) Result in patrilocality

Question 7

Polygamous mating systems are those in which:

A) Adult males and females form pairbonds
B) One male mates with two or more different females
C) One female mates with two or more different males
D) Both sexes mate with multiple partners

Question 8

Evolutionary approaches to studying behavior assume:

A) Variation in behavior can affect individual fitness
B) All behavior is learned
C) Individuals in a population differ little in their behavior
D) All behavior is genetically determined

Question 9

Which of the following is not a limitation to testing evolutionary theories of behavior in primates?

A) Extended kinship, especially along paternal lines, is difficult to ascertain from behavioral observations alone
B) Primate behaviors cannot be systematically described or compared
C) Optimal behavioral strategies can change over the course of an individual's lifetime
D) The consequences of most behaviors for individual lifetime reproductive success are difficult to assess

Question 10

Ultimate levels of explanation of behavior involve:

A) Understanding proximate, physiological mechanisms
B) Understanding the development or ontogeny of behavior
C) Understanding the evolutionary function in terms of fitness
D) Understanding phylogenetic relationships

Question 11

The comparative method requires that:

A) Behavioral data be collected in standardized ways
B) All aspects of a species' life history are known
C) Species with similar feeding strategies are used
D) The same observer collects all of the data

Question 12

Marmosets and tamarins are unusual primates because:

A) Females have unexpectedly slow reproductive rates
B) Ovulation can be suppressed in subordinate females
C) They have never been studied in captivity
D) Daughters routinely mate with their fathers

Question 13

The first field studies of wild primates conducted by C. R. Carpenter involved:

A) Orangutans
B) Savanna baboons
C) Muriquis
D) Howler monkeys

Question 14

One of the major contributions of primate studies to behavioral ecology has been:

A) The focus on individual variation and longitudinal research
B) The fact that many species are known only from a single study group
C) The role of primates in biomedical research
D) Conservation concerns

Question 15

"Indicator species" are species that:

A) Have been targeted for research because of their phylogenetic closeness to humans
B) Are ecologically similar to humans
C) Provide clues into the status of their ecological communities
D) Can easily adapt to disturbances in their habitats

Question 16

Predator sensitivity:

A) Is equally common to all newborn primates
B) Describes the variation in the vulnerability of different primates to predators
C) Reflects the evolutionary history of a species
D) Can be used to infer the types of prey that predators prefer

Question 17

Explain two advantages and two disadvantages for using primates as model species to test theories of behavioral ecology.

Question 18

Savanna baboons differ from muriquis, chimpanzees, and mountain gorillas in a variety of ways. Choose two of these primates, and list two ways in which they differ from savanna baboons.

Question 19

Draw the graph that depicts Optimal Group Size when predation and food competition are considered. Label all axes and lines, and discuss how the compromises between increased protection from predators and reduced feeding success are thought to affect optimal group sizes in primates.

Question 20

Tinbergen described four levels of explanation of why certain behaviors occur. Select one of the following examples of primate behavior and describe how each of the four levels could be used to explain it.
• Pygmy marmosets display their genitals when they encounter neighboring groups at the edge of their territories.
• Male chimpanzees participate in cooperative hunting endeavors more often than females.

Question 21

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of studying primates in captivity versus in the wild.

Question 22

Discuss how the degree of dietary and habitat specialization affects a species' vulnerability to human disturbances.

Question 23

Define phenotypic plasticity and explain its importance for behavioral adaptations, particularly in environments that are undergoing rapid changes.

Question 24

Consider the trade-offs between the kinds of research that can be conducted on captive and wild primates, and present one type of question that might be most appropriate to each. Be sure to specify the conditions of your captive and wild subjects.