Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between proximate and ultimate causation in behavioral ecology?

Accepted Answer

Proximate causation focuses on the immediate mechanisms (such as hormones or neural processes) that trigger a behavior, while ultimate causation addresses the evolutionary reasons why the behavior exists.

Question 2

Which scenario is an example of a fixed action pattern?

Accepted Answer

A goose rolling an egg back into its nest even if the egg is replaced with a round object.

Question 3

Behaviors can evolve over time. Which of the following best explains how behaviors evolve?

Accepted Answer

Behaviors evolve through natural selection when they increase the reproductive success of individuals.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a behavior with a clear genetic basis?

Accepted Answer

Honeybees performing the waggle dance to communicate food location.

Question 5

A squirrel is considered a foraging generalist, while a giant panda is a foraging specialist. What is the main trade-off between these two strategies?

Accepted Answer

Specialists are less likely to survive environmental changes due to their narrow diet, while generalists can adapt to a wider range of food sources.

Question 6

Which of the following best illustrates the cost-benefit approach to behavioral analysis?

Accepted Answer

A predator decides whether to chase prey based on the energy it will gain versus the energy it will expend.

Question 7

In Reto Zach’s study of foraging crows, which of the following decisions did the crows make while feeding on whelks?

Accepted Answer

Choosing the largest whelk, deciding how high to drop it, and how many times to drop it.

Question 8

Why do bumble bees refuse to feed on cherry blossoms when it is cold outside?

Accepted Answer

Because the energy cost of flying in cold weather outweighs the energy gained from feeding.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a fitness trade-off?

Accepted Answer

A bird spends more time foraging for food, but less time watching for predators.

Question 10

What is the optimal foraging hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Animals maximize their net energy intake per unit time by making decisions that balance costs and benefits.

Question 11

Which of the following equations best represents the cost-benefit analysis of foraging behavior?

Accepted Answer

$$ 	ext{Net Benefit} = 	ext{Energy Gained} - 	ext{Energy Expended} $$

Question 12

Which of the following is a learned behavior?

Accepted Answer

A rat learning to run a maze for a food reward.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the importance of learning about one’s local environment?

Accepted Answer

Learning allows animals to adapt their behavior to local conditions, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a key consideration when performing cost-benefit analysis of non-human behavior?

Accepted Answer

Assuming animals always act rationally.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes FID (Flight Initiation Distance) and how it is measured?

Accepted Answer

FID is the distance at which an animal begins to flee from a potential threat, measured by approaching the animal and recording the distance when it starts to move away.

Question 16

Which scenario best illustrates how early learned experiences can have later consequences for an animal?

Accepted Answer

A bird that learns its species-specific song early in life is able to attract mates as an adult.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example in which costs and benefits are evaluated to predict foraging patterns?

Accepted Answer

A wolf chooses to hunt in a pack to increase the likelihood of capturing prey, despite sharing the food.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the general pattern regarding how flexible or fixed a particular behavior is?

Accepted Answer

Innate behaviors are typically fixed and less flexible, while learned behaviors are more flexible and can be modified by experience.

Chapter 50 Study Guide: Behavioral Ecology – Step-by-Step Guidance

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