Exam 1

Question 1

Which of the following are true about behavior?

A. Behavioral choices exhibited by an animal are always adaptive
B. An ultimate explanation invokes evolutionary or historical mechanisms
C. Behavioral traits evolve to benefit a species
D. Most behaviors are determined by a single gene

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Behavioral traits are typically _______

Answer 2

Polygenic

Question 3

Genes involved in regulating behavior are typically ____

Answer 3

Pleiotropic

Question 4

What are Tinbergen’s 4 Questions?

Answer 4

1. What is the immediate causation of behavior
2. How does the behavior develop?
3. What is the evolutionary history of the behavior?
4. What is the adaptive function of the behavior?

Question 5

Example of Proximate approach

Answer 5

Analyze levels of stress hormones in the blood after the animal flees from an aversive stimulus

Question 6

Example of ultimate approach

Answer 6

Study survival and genetic relatedness analyses to determine the evolutionary history of the behavior

Question 7

Origin of Natural Selection

Answer 7

Darwin

Question 8

Proximate and ultimate causes are _____

Answer 8

Complementary

Question 9

Natural Selection is _____

Answer 9

A mechanism by which evolution could occur

Question 10

Requirements of Natural Selection

Answer 10

1. Variability
2. Heritability
3. More offspring produced than can survive
4. Some variations are more successful
5. Most favorable variations more likely to survive & reproduce
6. Naturally selected individuals contribute more offspring to later generations

Question 11

Natural selection is a ______

Answer 11

Passive filtering mechanism

Question 12

Selection acts on heritable _____ variation in traits

Answer 12

Individual (not group)

Question 13

_____ acting on differences among ____ within a population will usually have a stronger evolutionary effect than _____ acting on differences among _____

Answer 13

Darwinian selection
Individuals
Group selection
Groups

Question 14

Evidence suggesting evolution

Answer 14

Geology (gradualism)
Homology
Paleontology

Question 15

Example of Instinctive Behavior

Answer 15

A lizard flees from the sidewalk when a human approaches

Question 16

Ethology

Answer 16

Focus on behavior under natural conditions

Views behavior as an evolutionarily adaptive trait

Question 17

Behavioral ecology

Answer 17

Evolutionary basis for animal behavior due to ecological pressures

Question 18

Adaptive significance

Answer 18

Beneficial qualities (increased survival and reproduction) a trait conveys

Question 19

Genetic Differences

Answer 19

Can lead to behavioral differences that in turn drive differences in reproductive success

Question 20

Scientific Approach

Answer 20

1. Observations
2. Form questions
3. Hypotheses
4. Testable Predictions
5. Gather Data
6. Refine, Alter, Expand or Reject Hypotheses
7. Develop general theories

Question 21

Variation + Heritability + Differential reproduction

Answer 21

Evolutionary Change

Question 22

Genes

Answer 22

Segments of DNA encoding information for synthesis of proteins

Question 23

Alleles

Answer 23

Different forms of a gene

Question 24

Adaptation

Answer 24

Characteristic that confers higher inclusive fitness to individuals than any other existing alternative exhibited by other individuals within the population

Question 25

Instinct

Answer 25

Hereditary inborn knkwledge

Question 26

Methods to understand how genes influence behavior

Answer 26

1. Crossbreeding experiments 2. Artificial selection 3. Hold environment constant (common garden, cross fostering)

Question 27

Common garden experiment

Answer 27

If differences persist in 2 pop. w/ different behavior, then differences have genetic basis

Question 28

The common garden experiment _____

Answer 28

Removes major environmental effects on behavior

Question 29

Cross fostering

Answer 29

Parenting behavior is learned & inherited (Montane & Prairie voles)

Question 30

The control of complex behaviors are typically ____

Answer 30

Polygenic

Question 31

Behavior genes are often _____

Answer 31

Pleiotropic

Question 32

Innate releasing mechanism

Answer 32

Neural network that processes a sign stimulus and then coordinates a fixed action pattern

Question 33

How nervous system modulates behavior

Answer 33

- neuron firing rate increases with strength of stimulus - number of neurons firing increases with strength of stimulus - some nerve impulses require neurotransmitter

Question 34

Learning

Answer 34

- Change in behavior based on experience - Ability to learn is costly - Allows plasticity and flexibility

Question 35

Duetting in tropical wrens

Answer 35

Juveniles acquire duetting rules during early development

Question 36

____ change the probability of a particular behavior

Answer 36

Hormones

Question 37

A special case of learning is a ______ in response to a _____ stimulus

Answer 37

Fixed Action Pattern Sign Ex: Gull chicks

Question 38

Feature detection

Answer 38

Nervous system sorts key info from background noise Ex: Toad vision ignores perpendicular movement

Question 39

Audiogram

Answer 39

Perpendicular axis: threshold in dB SPL Horizontal axis: Frequency in kHz Peaks mean different functions

Question 40

Doppler effect in bats

Answer 40

Compensation by adjusting call frequency | (Lowers as it gets closer to prey

Question 41

Frequency sensitivity

Answer 41

Bats discern small frequency differences within acute range of hearing

Question 42

Place Theory

Answer 42

Ability to sense frequency depends on different sound frequencies selectively vibrating different areas of the cochlea

Question 43

Stimulus filtering

Answer 43

Capacity to focus on relevant stimuli and filter out background of less relevant stimulus

Question 44

What constraints do bats face in terms of using echolocation

Answer 44

Spreading losses, doppler shift, call masking returning echo

Question 45

What do bats need to be successful at echolocation

Answer 45

Acute hearing & sensitivity in processing sound information

Question 46

What adaptations have bat species developed to echolocate prey

Answer 46

Doppler shift compensation, auditory fovea, sensitivity in auditory cortex, specialized neurons to detect echoes

Question 47

Hormones have major critical functions in ___

Answer 47

Reproduction & Survival

Question 48

Organizational effects

Answer 48

Early development Specific critical period Irreversible

Question 49

Activational effects

Answer 49

Adulthood Reversible Only when hormone is present

Question 50

Why did young and colleagues perform gonadectomies on experimental groups?

Answer 50

Eliminate natural production of hormones by animals to experimentally control hormone exposure

Question 51

Hormones mediate how behaviors change in response to _____

Answer 51

External stimuli

Question 52

Why are spotted antbirds aggressive year round, although they have low sex steroid levels during non-breeding season?

Answer 52

Increased sensitivity to sex-steroids by non-reproductive brain

Question 53

Androgens during gestation mediate ___

Answer 53

Aggression Ex: genital masculinization in spotted hyena

Question 54

Cognitive ethology

Answer 54

Clark’s nutcracker located caches by remembering where they put them

Question 55

Canid generalization

Answer 55

All canids are good at interpreting social cues Dogs vs. Wolves

Question 56

Is imprinting proximate or ultimate?

Answer 56

Proximate because it has to do with development

Question 57

True or False: Instinctual learning can be altered through development

Answer 57

False

Question 58

Compare/Contrast instinct, imprinted, and learned behavior

Answer 58

Learned behavior develops over time with experience while instincts are innate and cannot be altered through development. Imprinting is a type of learned behavior that happens in a critical period. Imprinting and learned behavior are both proximate as they involve development of the animal.