Question 1

Which of the following best describes habituation in animal behavior?

Accepted Answer

A decline in response to a repeated, irrelevant stimulus, preventing waste of energy and attention.

Question 2

A researcher observes that newly hatched ducklings follow the first moving object they see, which is usually their mother. This phenomenon is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

Imprinting, a specialized form of rapid learning during a defined period of development.

Question 3

Which laboratory apparatus is most closely associated with demonstrating operant conditioning in animals?

Accepted Answer

Skinner box

Question 4

A chimpanzee suddenly stacks boxes to reach a banana suspended from the ceiling, without prior trial-and-error attempts. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Insight learning, involving mental manipulation of concepts to solve a novel problem.

Question 5

Which of the following is a primary advantage of ritualized displays and contests in animal societies?

Accepted Answer

They allow animals to assess rivals and establish dominance without risking serious injury.

Question 6

Why might an animal defend a territory when resources are clumped but abandon territoriality when resources are widely dispersed?

Accepted Answer

Defending a clumped resource is more energy-efficient and yields higher benefits, while widely dispersed resources increase the cost of defense beyond the benefits.

Question 7

Which communication channel is most effective for long-range signaling in dense forests or murky water?

Accepted Answer

Acoustic (sound) signals

Question 8

In the context of sexual selection, which behavior increases a male’s likelihood of reproductive success after mating?

Accepted Answer

Guarding the female to prevent her from mating with other males.

Question 9

Which of the following is a cost associated with group living in animal societies?

Accepted Answer

Rapid transmission of contagious pathogens due to high-density living.

Question 10

Altruistic behavior, such as a meerkat giving a warning call that exposes itself to danger, is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

Kin selection, which increases the survival of shared genes by helping relatives.

Question 11

Which parasite manipulates its host’s behavior to increase the likelihood of transmission to its next host by reducing the host’s fear of predators?

Accepted Answer

Toxoplasma gondii

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the main evolutionary benefit of territoriality, despite its initial energy costs?

Accepted Answer

It reduces the frequency of future aggressive encounters by establishing clear dominance and boundaries.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

A dog salivates when it hears a bell that has been repeatedly paired with food.

Question 14

Which of the following is a benefit of group living that directly increases individual fitness?

Accepted Answer

The confusion effect, which reduces an individual’s chance of being captured by predators.

Question 15

Which communication channel is most effective for signaling in the absence of the signaler and can persist over long distances?

Accepted Answer

Chemical (pheromone) signals

Question 16

A honeybee colony exhibits specialized roles such as workers, drones, and a queen. This division of labor is an example of which group living benefit?

Accepted Answer

Specialized roles that increase the overall success of the group.

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why the application of evolutionary biology to human social behavior (sociobiology) is controversial?

Accepted Answer

It risks promoting biological determinism, oversimplifying complex social actions like crime or social hierarchies.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of social learning in animals?

Accepted Answer

A young chimpanzee mimics the termite-fishing technique of an older group member.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the difference between trial-and-error learning and insight learning?

Accepted Answer

Trial-and-error is a slow process involving repeated attempts, while insight involves sudden problem-solving without prior experience.

Question 20

Which of the following is a real-world example of a parasite manipulating host behavior to complete its life cycle?

Accepted Answer

Leucochloridium paradoxum causes snails to climb into visible locations, increasing their chances of being eaten by birds.

Chapter 26 Study Guide: Animal Behavior

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards