Question 1

Which of the following best distinguishes between proximate and ultimate questions about animal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Proximate questions focus on the immediate physiological or environmental triggers of a behavior, while ultimate questions address the evolutionary reasons for the behavior.

Question 2

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A sequence of unlearned, innate behaviors that is triggered by a specific stimulus and carried to completion.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a sign stimulus triggering a fixed action pattern?

Accepted Answer

A male stickleback fish attacking a red object that enters its territory.

Question 4

Daily circadian rhythms in animals are primarily influenced by:

Accepted Answer

Environmental cues such as light and temperature.

Question 5

Which of the following best illustrates the four modes of animal communication?

Accepted Answer

Visual, chemical, tactile, and auditory signals used by a honeybee to communicate the location of food.

Question 6

Which scenario best demonstrates the difference between learning and innate behavior?

Accepted Answer

A spider spinning a web without ever having seen another spider do so.

Question 7

Imprinting in geese is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A rapid, irreversible learning process that occurs during a critical period early in life.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of spatial learning?

Accepted Answer

A rat learning to run a maze by remembering the location of food rewards.

Question 9

Which type of learning involves associating a specific behavior with a reward or punishment?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning

Question 10

In a study of foraging behavior, what would be considered the ultimate cause for a bird choosing to eat larger seeds over smaller ones?

Accepted Answer

Eating larger seeds provides more energy, increasing the bird's reproductive success.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the difference between monogamous and polygamous mating systems?

Accepted Answer

Monogamous systems involve one male and one female, while polygamous systems involve one individual mating with multiple partners.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of altruistic behavior in animals?

Accepted Answer

A meerkat giving an alarm call to warn others of a predator, increasing its own risk.

Question 13

Hamilton's rule predicts that altruistic behavior is favored when:

Accepted Answer

$rB > C$

Question 14

The coefficient of relatedness $(r)$ between full siblings is:

Accepted Answer

$r = 0.5$

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why kin selection can promote altruistic behavior?

Accepted Answer

Altruistic behavior increases the reproductive success of relatives, thereby increasing the individual's inclusive fitness.

Question 16

A male bird that mates with several females in a breeding season is exhibiting which type of mating system?

Accepted Answer

Polygyny

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of associative learning?

Accepted Answer

A dog learning to salivate at the sound of a bell after repeated pairings with food.

Question 18

If a behavior increases an individual's fitness but decreases the fitness of another, this behavior is classified as:

Accepted Answer

Selfishness

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the concept of inclusive fitness?

Accepted Answer

The sum of an individual's own reproductive success plus the effects the individual has on the reproductive success of relatives.

Question 20

A researcher observes that prairie dogs give alarm calls more frequently when close relatives are nearby. This behavior is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

Kin selection

Animal Behavior: Stimuli, Learning, and Evolutionary Analysis

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