Q: Which equation correctly describes the change in population size ($$\Delta N) $$per unit time ($$\Delta t) $$when immigration and emigration are ignored?

$$\Delta N / \Delta t = \text{Births} - \text{Deaths}$$

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the waggle dance performed by honeybees?

Accepted Answer

It communicates the location of food relative to the position of the sun.

Question 2

A ground squirrel warns its siblings of a predator, increasing their survival by 2 offspring each, but reduces its own survival by 1 offspring. If the coefficient of relatedness $$r$$ between the squirrel and its siblings is 0.5, does this behavior satisfy Hamilton’s Rule ($$Br \u003e C$$)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because $$B = 4$$, $$r = 0.5$$, $$C = 1$$, and $$Br = 2 \u003e 1.$$

Question 3

Which type of signal would be most effective for an animal living in a dense forest with limited visibility?

Accepted Answer

Acoustic signals

Question 4

In bluegill sunfish, some males mimic females to gain access to eggs for fertilization. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Deceitful communication within the same species

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for altruistic behavior to be favored by natural selection according to Hamilton’s Rule?

Accepted Answer

The altruist and recipient are unrelated.

Question 6

What is the per capita growth rate $$r$$ for a population of 500 mice where 125 offspring are born and 25 individuals die in a year?

Accepted Answer

$$r = 0.2$$

Question 7

Which equation correctly describes the change in population size ($$\Delta N) $$per unit time ($$\Delta t) $$when immigration and emigration are ignored?

Accepted Answer

$$\Delta N / \Delta t = 	ext{Births} - 	ext{Deaths}$$

Question 8

Which survivorship curve is characterized by high mortality rates early in life and high survivorship after maturity?

Accepted Answer

Type III

Question 9

A population of rats is introduced to an island with $$N_0 = 12$, r = 0.6$ per month. How many rats will there be after 4 months? Use N_t$$ = $$N_0$$ $$e^{rt}.$$

Accepted Answer

$$N_t = 132$$

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of reciprocal altruism?

Accepted Answer

Vervet monkeys grooming unrelated individuals who have groomed them in the past.

Question 11

What is the coefficient of relatedness ($$r) $$between a parent and their offspring?

Accepted Answer

$$r = 0.5$$

Question 12

Which of the following best describes inclusive fitness?

Accepted Answer

Inclusive fitness is the sum of direct fitness and indirect fitness.

Question 13

Which of the following is a plausible reason why not all males in a species evolve to be mimics, even if mimicry provides a fitness advantage?

Accepted Answer

Frequency-dependent selection may reduce the advantage of mimicry as mimics become more common.

Question 14

Which population distribution pattern is most likely observed in a field of dandelions?

Accepted Answer

Random distribution

Question 15

If a population has a large proportion of young individuals, what is the likely impact on population growth?

Accepted Answer

The population is likely to grow rapidly.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a way animals communicate?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthetic signals

Question 17

Which equation is used to calculate the coefficient of relatedness ($$r) $$between two individuals separated by $$n$$ generations?

Accepted Answer

$$r = (1/2)^n$$

Question 18

Which of the following statements about population growth rate ($$\Delta N / \Delta t) is $$correct?

Accepted Answer

If births equal deaths, then $$r = 0$$ and the population size remains constant.

Question 19

Which of the following is a trade-off observed in population ecology?

Accepted Answer

Trade-off between survivorship and fecundity

Behavioural Ecology and Population Ecology: Communication, Altruism, and Population Dynamics

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