evolution and behavior quiz 1 repeated questions Flashcards
If a given environment is home to a number of similar species, each with a variant of a given trait (e.g., finches with different beaks), what can we infer?
a) The different species must have been separated by a breeding barrier in their past.
b) The organisms are easily prone to mutation.
c) The environment is relatively stable.
d) The similarities across species (e.g., the finches other than their beaks) represent convergent evolution.
e) There must have been human intervention.
a) The different species must have been separated by a breeding barrier in their past.
Mammals receiving new genes from viruses is an example of _______ gene transfer.
a) horizontal
b) vertical
c) diagonal
d) micro-
e) linear
a) horizontal
If a large group of feral dogs is separated into two different environments and the two groups are unable to interbreed for a significant number of generations, we would expect that ______.
a) the two groups would maintain most of their initial similarities
b) the two groups would evolve equally
c) adaptive radiation would occur
d) the most fit group would change the most
e) both groups would change, but in similar ways because of their common origins
c) adaptive radiation would occur
Punctuated equilibrium describes _____.
a) the gradual settling of all populations within an ecological niche
b) the change in a species population due to predation and reproduction
c) the balance between land and water ecosystems
d) periods of relatively slow evolution followed by periods of rapid change
e) the period of time between ice ages
d) periods of relatively slow evolution followed by periods of rapid change
Many traits are ______, which explains why we often observe a gradation of trait expression in a given environment.
a) monogenic
b) polygenic
c) dysfunctional
d) genetically-linked
e) environment-specific
b) polygenic
Evolutionary inertia entails that _______.
a) evolutionary change will slow over time
b) traits will not change unless the environment does
c) rapid evolution in one species means slow evolution in competing species
d) natural selection can only operate on genetic predispositions which already exist
e) there is an upper limit on how many variations of a trait can exist
d) natural selection can only operate on genetic predispositions which already exist
The degree of fit between a species and its environment is determined by ______, _______, and ______.
a) how fast the species evolves, the evolutionary history of the species, and how fast the niche changes
b) how fast the niche changes, artificial selection, the evolutionary history of the species
c) how fast the niche changes, how fast the species evolves, the size of the breeding group
d) the size of breeding group, the evolutionary history of the species, and the number of species competing for the niche
e) artificial selection, the evolutionary history of the species, how fast the niche changes
c) how fast the niche changes, how fast the species evolves, the size of the breeding group
Which of the following is NOT a reason dysfunctional traits are seen in a species?
a) The environment changes across generations.
b) The environment changes within a generation.
c) The trait is monogenetic and dominant, so it is expressed in all individuals, even those with only one predisposed allele.
d) The trait is genetically linked to an advantageous trait.
e) We haven’t yet understood how the trait might be beneficial
c) The trait is monogenetic and dominant, so it is expressed in all individuals, even those with only one predisposed allele.
Which of the following scenarios BEST challenges the view that humans have free will?
a) A demonstration that rats can carefully plan out their activities.
b) A demonstration that a simple organism can exhibit instrumental behavior.
c) A demonstration that our behavior often diverges from our reasoned intentions.
d) A demonstration that humans can learn associations in the absence of self-awareness.
e) A demonstration that other species can learn language.
c) A demonstration that our behavior often diverges from our reasoned intentions.
What is the mechanism by which DNA influences behavior?
a) DNA stores memory information directly.
b) It acts as a type of hormone.
c) It acts as a type of neurotransmitter.
d) It enables RNA to create proteins.
e) It conducts action potentials.
d) It enables RNA to create proteins.
Observing one animal deceiving a conspecific (i.e., member of the same species) infers that ______.
a) empathy is not evolved in that species
b) both animals live in an area of limited resources
c) the first animal will likely pass on its genes
d) the species is capable of inferring mental states of conspecifics
e) the second animal is not fit to its environment
d) the species is capable of inferring mental states of conspecifics
Which of the following research questions can be best characterized as investigating evolutionary history?
a) The fear reaction to snakes in various closely related primates.
b) How a jumping reflex helps a species of mouse avoid predators.
c) Changes to the brain in utero.
d) The influence of hormones on receptiveness to mating rituals.
e) Factors affecting the lifespan of a fruit fly.
a) The fear reaction to snakes in various closely related primates.
An ultimate analysis of animal behavior would closely examine ______.
a) development and survival value
b) survival value and evolutionary history
c) mechanism and evolutionary history
d) mechanism and development
e) mechanism and survival value
b) survival value and evolutionary history
Individual learning can interact with natural selection in that _____.
a) individual learning is passed down through generations
b) natural selection can favor certain learning rules
c) organisms can learn how to evolve
d) organisms can learn which traits are selective
e) organisms can learn which traits are not selective
b) natural selection can favor certain learning rules
The main difference between observational and experimental studies is that _____.
a) experimental studies involve no observation
b) you can only draw causal inferences in observational studies
c) only experimental studies involve manipulation of the relevant variables
d) observational studies must be conducted outside the lab
e) experimental studies always precede theoretical work
c) only experimental studies involve manipulation of the relevant variables
Of the following scenarios, which is least conducive to conditions for natural selection?
a) A sparsely occupied pond with abundant resources.
b) A species of frog with many different variations in traits.
c) Certain beaks in tropical birds being better suited to eating bugs.
d) A foraging behavior in wasps which is heritable.
e) Fish which produce hundreds of eggs.
a) A sparsely occupied pond with abundant resources.
If a trait is shared across two species which do not share a recent common ancestor with the trait, we would refer to that trait as _______.
a) heteroplasic
b) homoplasic
c) a homology
d) heterogamic
e) phylogenic
b) homoplasic
The effect of testosterone on aggression in males illustrates how some hormones influence a behavior by ________ the behavior.
a) dampening
b) canceling
c) triggering
d) priming
e) modifying
d) priming
In the textbook’s discussion of prairie voles, an understanding of how selective pressures favoring paternal care might influence the number of vasopressin receptors in the vole ventral pallidum is an example of _______ guiding analysis at the _________.
a) ultimate perspective; intermediate perspective
b) proximate perspective; intermediate perspective
c) intermediate perspective; ultimate perspective
d) proximate perspective; ultimate perspective
e) ultimate perspective; proximate perspective
e) ultimate perspective; proximate perspective
The _______ system affects behavior within minutes to hours, while the _________ system can affect behavior on the order of seconds.
a) neurobiological; sociobiological
b) sociobiological; endocrinological
c) endocrinological; neurobiological
d) neurobiological; sociobiological
e) endocrinological; neurobiological
c) endocrinological; neurobiological
As a visual stimulus increases in strength, how do we expect the firing of neurons to change?
a) Fewer neurons will fire.
b) The neurons will not change their firing pattern.
c) Different types of neurotransmitters will be released.
d) The neurons will fire faster.
e) The neurons will fire slower.
d) The neurons will fire faster.
What most likely explains the larger hippocampus in non-monogamous male voles?
a) The monogamous and non-monogamous voles have different diets.
b) The non-monogamous male voles are hunted by different sets of predators.
c) Non-monogamous voles are better selected to visit several different females.
d) Hippocampus size increases with the number of sexual encounters.
e) Non-monogamous male voles have to track other male voles (i.e., competition).
c) Non-monogamous voles are better selected to visit several different females.
The Mallard duck’s unihemispheric sleep most likely results from the ______.
a) trait conferring benefits to survival
b) ducks needing to feed at night
c) ducks being unable to sleep properly in groups
d) ducks needing to constantly swim, even when sleeping
e) trait being useful for attracting mates at night
a) trait conferring benefits to survival
A quantitative trait mapping reveals ______.
a) the exact region of the genome responsible for a complex behavior
b) an approximate region of the genome responsible for a complex behavior
c) the exact alleles that affect a polygenic trait
d) how many variants a trait has
e) how many traits are associated with a single gene
b) an approximate region of the genome responsible for a complex behavior