Question 1

Which of the following best describes Tinbergen's four questions for understanding animal behavior?

Accepted Answer

They address both proximate (how) and ultimate (why) causes of behavior.

Question 2

A male stickleback fish attacks any object with a red underside. This is an example of which behavioral concept?

Accepted Answer

Fixed action pattern triggered by a sign stimulus

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of ultimate causation in animal behavior?

Accepted Answer

A bird sings to attract mates, increasing its reproductive success.

Question 4

Which mode of animal communication is used when honeybees perform a 'waggle dance' to indicate the location of food?

Accepted Answer

Visual communication

Question 5

A sow bug becomes more active in dry areas and less active in humid areas. This behavior is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Kinesis

Question 6

Which of the following statements about imprinting is correct?

Accepted Answer

Imprinting occurs only during a sensitive period early in development.

Question 7

A rat learns to press a lever to receive food. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning (trial-and-error learning)

Question 8

Which equation represents Hamilton's rule for predicting when altruistic behavior will be favored by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

$$rB \u003e C$$

Question 9

In a population of western garter snakes, coastal snakes eat banana slugs while inland snakes do not. This difference is most likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Genetic variation shaped by natural selection in different environments.

Question 10

Which of the following best illustrates kin selection?

Accepted Answer

A ground squirrel gives an alarm call to warn its relatives of a predator.

Question 11

Which mating system is most likely to result in males and females looking similar in appearance?

Accepted Answer

Monogamy

Question 12

Which of the following is a cost considered in the optimal foraging model?

Accepted Answer

Risk of predation while searching for food

Question 13

Which type of learning involves associating an arbitrary stimulus with a reward or punishment?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning

Question 14

A trout swimming upstream to face the current is demonstrating which type of directed movement?

Accepted Answer

Positive rheotaxis

Question 15

Which of the following is necessary for reciprocal altruism to evolve in a species?

Accepted Answer

Individuals must interact repeatedly and be able to punish cheaters.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes sexual selection?

Accepted Answer

Selection for traits that increase mating success.

Question 17

A young chimpanzee learns to crack nuts by watching older chimpanzees. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Social learning

Question 18

Which of the following is true about parental care in species with external fertilization?

Accepted Answer

Parental care is equally likely to be provided by males as by females.

Question 19

Which of the following is a real-world example of a stimulus-response chain in animal communication?

Accepted Answer

Fruit fly courtship involving visual, chemical, tactile, and auditory signals in sequence.

Question 20

If a female stalk-eyed fly prefers males with longer eyestalks, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Intersexual selection

Animal Behavior: Principles and Mechanisms (Campbell Biology, Chapter 51)

Study Guide - Practice Questions