Question 1

Due to reproductive isolation, a new species of weaver bird is evolving.Is it likely to use a social or solitary nesting strategy?
A)It depends on whether it lives in the forest or the open savanna.
B)It depends on whether it lives in near water or near the desert.
C)It depends on how many similar species it is competing with.
D)It depends on how many eggs it lays. African weaver birds, which construct nests from vegetation, provide an excellent example of the relationship between ecology and social organization.Their roughly 90 species can be divided according to the type of social group they form.One group of species lives in the forest and builds camouflaged, solitary nests.Males and females are monogamous; they forage for insects to feed their young.The second group of species nests in colonies in trees on the savanna.They are polygynous and feed in flocks on seeds.The feeding and nesting habits of these two groups of species are correlated with their mating systems.In the forest, insects are hard to find, and both parents must cooperate in feeding the young.The camouflaged nests do not call the attention of predators to their brood.On the open savanna, building a hidden nest is not an option.Rather, savanna-dwelling weaver birds protect their young from predators by nesting in trees, which are not very abundant.This shortage of safe nest sites means that birds must nest together in colonies.Because seeds occur abundantly, a female can acquire all the food needed to rear young without a male's help.The male, free from the duties of parenting, spends his time courting many females-a polygynous mating system.

Accepted Answer

The nesting strategy of the weaver bird is influenced by its habitat. In forests, solitary nesting is favored due to the need for camouflaged nests and cooperative parenting. In open savannas, social nesting in colonies is favored due to the scarcity of safe nesting sites and the abundance of seeds, allowing for a polygynous mating system.

Question 2

In regards to altruism, what way are humans like vampire bats?
A)Their altruism is based on haplodiploidy.
B)They are both Chiroptera.
C)Their altruism is based on kin selection.
D)They engage in reciprocal altruism. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

Humans and vampire bats both engage in reciprocal altruism, where individuals help others with the expectation that the favor will be returned in the future.

Question 3

A study finds a positive correlation between the number of spots on the tail of male peacocks and their mating success.What would be the best followup experiment?
A)Count the number of spots on female tails and measure mating success.
B)Remove spots or add artificial spots to male tails and determine female responses.
C)Measure the sperm count of males and compare to spot count.
D)Inject testosterone and observe changes in spot count. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

Manipulating the number of spots on male tails and observing female responses would help determine if the spots directly influence mating success, establishing a causal relationship.

Question 4

If a behavior has evolved by natural selection, it must have ______________.
A)benefits for both males and females
B)reduced the predation rate on the animal
C)evolved the same way in each species
D)a genetic basis

Accepted Answer

If a behavior has evolved by natural selection, it means it is genetic in nature, as natural selection acts on genetic variation within a population. A, B, and C are not necessarily true for all behaviors that evolve by natural selection.

Question 5

A bird sanctuary sometimes takes over the care of eggs or chicks of an endangered duck species if the parents are killed.They are sometimes able to use mothers of farm ducks to cross-foster the chicks, but it doesn't always work.Looking at the following data table, what is the critical period for imprinting in this species? (Note: DAH stands for "days after hatching".) 
A)The critical period extends from 1-3 DAH.
B)The critical period extends from 3-8 DAH.
C)The critical period ends sometime between 1-3 DAH.We can not determine from this data when the critical period begins.
D)The critical period ends sometime between 3-8 DAH.We can not determine from this data when the critical period begins. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A bird sanctuary sometimes takes over the...

Question 6

You read about how learning preparedness influences the associations that an animal is capable of learning.You want to explore the learning preparedness of hamsters.How might you test the learning preparedness of this species?
A)Train hamsters to navigate a maze to reach a reward.Determine which hamsters are fastest -- thus, are most prepared to learn.
B)Train hamsters to navigate a maze to reach a reward.Determine the time of day at which the hamsters are fastest -- thus, most prepared to learn.
C)Train hamsters to choose between tunnels to find a reward.Switch the reward tunnel frequently, and determine which hamsters learn the new association the fastest.
D)Train hamsters to choose between tunnels to find a reward, and mark the tunnels with different visual, tactile, chemosensory or auditory stimuli to see which associations are learnable. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

This option tests the hamsters' ability to learn associations between different types of stimuli and rewards, which directly assesses their learning preparedness.

Question 7

You are on the committee to update the design of the hospital NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), which currently has incubators for the babies but not much else.Based on what you have learned about Harlow's experiments with rhesus monkeys, what would you suggest adding to the NICU to improve the babies' health and well-being?
A)comfortable chairs for parents to hold their babies
B)softer lighting
C)white-noise devices to mask the sound of beeping machines
D)pheromones Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

Harlow's experiments highlighted the importance of physical contact and comfort for emotional and psychological well-being. Providing comfortable chairs for parents to hold their babies would encourage bonding and provide the necessary physical contact.

Question 8

A certain species has offspring that require a very large amount of parental care.Predict their mating system.
A)monogamous
B)polyandrous
C)polygynous
D)monotonous

Accepted Answer

When offspring require a significant amount of parental care, it is more adaptive for both parents to work together to provide for and protect their young. Monogamy would allow for this partnership to form and would increase the likelihood of offspring survival. In polyandrous mating systems, where one female mates with multiple males, it would be difficult for each male to provide the necessary parental care. In polygynous mating systems, where one male mates with multiple females, the male may not have the necessary resources to provide for all of his offspring adequately. Monotonous is not a valid option as it is not a recognized mating system.

Question 9

True or False: Haplodiploidy is necessary for eusociality.

Accepted Answer

Haplodiploidy, a genetic system seen in some insects like bees and ants, is not necessary for eusociality. Eusociality, which involves cooperative brood care, reproductive division of labor, and overlapping generations, also occurs in species without haplodiploidy, such as termites and naked mole-rats.

Question 10

Male hummingbirds flash a patch of iridescent feathers on their neck called the gorget.This behavior makes them very visible.Why advertise their presence to a predator?
A)Hummingbirds are so fast that predation is not a large factor for them.
B)Predators cannot see colors so are not alerted.
C)The benefits of defending a territory exceed the costs of predation.
D)This is an example of a maladaptive behavior that decreases overall fitness. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

The benefits of defending a territory, such as attracting mates and deterring rivals, outweigh the risks of predation for male hummingbirds.

Question 11

A zoo is hand-rearing an endangered species of songbird.What is the best approach to help prepare the males to attract mates?
A)Expose the males to a mentor male bird singing their species' song during the critical period.
B)Expose the males to female pheromones from their species, to initiate development of song circuits during the critical period.
C)Expose the males to each other during the critical period, to initiate development of song circuits during the critical period.
D)Expose the males to a variety of birdsongs during the critical period. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

Exposing the males to a mentor male bird singing their species' song during the critical period helps them learn the correct song patterns necessary for attracting mates.

Question 12

In its youth, a pet parrot was owned by someone who kept the wings clipped and never allowed it to fly.Later in life, the new owner let the feathers grow and let the parrot fly around the house.But the parrot kept knocking over lamps and crashing into walls."Wow," said the owner, "I guess parrots are just too clumsy to fly around a house without destroying everything." What is an alternative explanation?
A)In nature, parrots have much more room to fly, and do not have to navigate around delicate home decor.
B)Since the parrot was not able to practice flying during the critical period for flight development, the brain circuits for accurate flying were not able to develop.
C)The parrot just needs more practice flying -- although it did not get to fly when young, this should not affect later ability.
D)The critical period for flying development in the brain has just now begun with the bird's first attempt.In a few weeks the critical period will end, so it must practice during this time. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

Since the parrot was not able to practice flying during the critical period for flight development, the brain circuits for accurate flying were not able to develop.

Question 13

You work in a lab that studies bird brains and behavior.You and your labmate have both submitted brains to a colleague to be sectioned.Your species is a bird that is known for storing large numbers of nuts each autumn in a variety of hidden locations.Your labmate's species is a raptor known for remarkable predatory behavior.What do you anticipate will be different between the two brains?
A)Your nut-hiding species is likely to have a large hippocampus, while the raptor may have a large visual system.
B)Your nut-hiding species is likely to have a large visual system, while the raptor may have an large hippocampus.
C)Both species are likely to have a large nucleus accumbens.
D)Your nut-hiding species is likely to have a large hypothalamus, while the raptor may have an large olfactory system. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

The nut-hiding bird species is likely to have a large hippocampus due to its role in spatial memory and navigation, which is crucial for remembering the locations of stored nuts. The raptor, known for its predatory behavior, is likely to have a well-developed visual system to aid in hunting.

Question 14

In the phalarope, or wadepiper bird, the male is unusual in playing the larger parenting role -- he performs all the egg incubation and chick care.What unusual behavior might you predict for the female of the species?
A)The female provides sperm to fertilize the male's eggs.
B)The female is part of a large harem of females, under the domain of a single male.
C)The females compete to mate with the males, who choose among them.
D)The females have dull, brown coloring that keeps them well-camouflaged. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

In species where males take on the primary parenting role, females often compete for access to males, reversing traditional gender roles in mating behavior.

Question 15

Research on starlings indicates that young birds migrate by _______________, but older birds use true __________________.
A)orientation; navigation
B)navigation; migration
C)migration; orientation
D)navigation; orientation

Accepted Answer

Research on starlings indicates that young birds use simple orientation cues, such as the position of the sun or magnetic fields, to migrate. On the other hand, older birds use true navigation, which involves using a map-like mental representation of the environment to determine their position and direction of travel. Therefore, the correct answer is A - young birds use orientation, while older birds use navigation.

Question 16

Which of the following genes would most likely play a role in promoting kin selection?
A)wingless -- critical for the formation of wings in fruit flies
B)SRY -- the gene that initiates male sex determination
C)Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes -- allow mammals to recognize related individuals
D)the genes important for the development of large antlers in the caribou Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

MHC genes are involved in the immune system and can help mammals recognize related individuals, which can influence behaviors that promote kin selection.

Question 17

One spring, your friend living in Minnesota eagerly sets up her new hummingbird feeders, and is thrilled to watch hummingbirds feeding on the nectar.However, she is disappointed when after just a week or two the hummingbirds disappear.What advice would you give her?
A)Set up a bell (conditioned stimulus) near the feeders so the hummingbirds make an association with the food.
B)Set up flashing red lights that mimic the male neck feathers -- that should attract more males to the area.
C)Set up the feeders again in the fall.The hummingbirds may have briefly traveled through during their annual spring migration.
D)Wait till next year -- hummingbirds are a high-metabolism, semelparous species and have already reproduced and died. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

Hummingbirds in Minnesota are likely passing through during their spring migration. They may return in the fall during their southward migration.

Question 18

Which statement best sums up our understanding of how animals navigate during migration?
A)The mechanisms have been worked out in great detail, from the genes involved, to the brain structures, to the resulting behavior.
B)We have a thorough understanding of orientation but not navigation.
C)We have some understanding of the information different animals rely on (sun, stars, or magnetic fields), and some sensory structures, but beyond that the mechanisms are still mysterious.
D)Animal navigation is a complete mystery.

Accepted Answer

While we have some understanding of the information different animals rely on to navigate during migration (e.g. sun, stars, or magnetic fields), as well as some understanding of certain sensory structures involved, the mechanisms beyond these basics are still largely mysterious. Therefore, option C is the best choice. Options A, B, and D are all incorrect as they overstate our current understanding of animal navigation during migration.

Question 19

Platys and swordtails are related tropical freshwater fish.In studies, researchers have shown that female platys prefer males with swordtails, even though males of their own species do not have them.This was discovered by attaching artificial swordtails to platys males.What does this suggest about the origin of the swordtail feature?
A)Female preference for swords may have predated the origin of the feature itself.
B)Evolution of swords later led to evolution of female preference for swords.
C)The same gene that causes sword development also causes development of neural circuits for female preference.
D)Adjacent genes on the same chromosome cause sword development and development of neural circuits for female preference. Clarify question:

Accepted Answer

This suggests that the female preference for swordtails existed before the actual physical trait evolved, indicating that the preference may have driven the evolution of the swordtail feature.

Quiz 54: Behavioral Biology

Due to reproductive isolation, a new species of weaver bird is evolving.Is it likely to use a social or solitary nesting strategy?

In regards to altruism, what way are humans like vampire bats?

A study finds a positive correlation between the number of spots on the tail of male peacocks and their mating success.What would be the best followup experiment?

If a behavior has evolved by natural selection, it must have ______________.

You read about how learning preparedness influences the associations that an animal is capable of learning.You want to explore the learning preparedness of hamsters.How might you test the learning preparedness of this species?

A certain species has offspring that require a very large amount of parental care.Predict their mating system.

True or False: Haplodiploidy is necessary for eusociality.

Male hummingbirds flash a patch of iridescent feathers on their neck called the gorget.This behavior makes them very visible.Why advertise their presence to a predator?

A zoo is hand-rearing an endangered species of songbird.What is the best approach to help prepare the males to attract mates?

In the phalarope, or wadepiper bird, the male is unusual in playing the larger parenting role -- he performs all the egg incubation and chick care.What unusual behavior might you predict for the female of the species?

Research on starlings indicates that young birds migrate by _, but older birds use true ____.

Which of the following genes would most likely play a role in promoting kin selection?

One spring, your friend living in Minnesota eagerly sets up her new hummingbird feeders, and is thrilled to watch hummingbirds feeding on the nectar.However, she is disappointed when after just a week or two the hummingbirds disappear.What advice would you give her?

Which statement best sums up our understanding of how animals navigate during migration?