Introduction to Behavior and Behavioral Ecology |
1. |
Define behavior. |
2. |
Distinguish between proximate and ultimate questions about behavior. Ask a proximate question and an ultimate question about bird song. |
3. |
Explain how the classical discipline of ethology led to the modern study of behavioral ecology. |
4. |
Define fixed action patterns and give an example. |
5. |
Define imprinting. Suggest a proximate cause and an ultimate cause for imprinting in young geese. |
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Many Behaviors Have a Genetic Component |
6. |
Explain how genes and environment contribute to behavior. Explain what is unique about innate behavior. |
7. |
Distinguish between kinesis and taxis. |
8. |
Distinguish between signal and pheromone. |
9. |
Explain how Berthold’s research demonstrated a genetic basis for blackcap migration. |
10. |
Describe Insel’s research on the genetic and physiological controls on parental behavior of prairie voles. Describe Bester-Meredith and Marler’s research on the influence of social behavior on parental behavior of California mice. |
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Learning |
11. |
Explain how habituation may influence behavior. |
12. |
Describe Tinbergen’s classic experiment on spatial learning in digger wasps. |
13. |
Distinguish between landmarks and cognitive maps. |
14. |
Describe how associative learning might help a predator to avoid toxic prey. |
15. |
Distinguish between classical conditioning and operant conditioning. |
16. |
Describe an experiment that demonstrates problem solving in nonhuman animals. |
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Behavioral Traits Can Evolve by Natural Selection |
17. |
Explain how Hedrick and Riechert’s experiments demonstrated that behavioral differences between populations might be the product of natural selection. |
18. |
Use an example to show how researchers can demonstrate the evolution of behavior in laboratory experiments. |
19. |
Explain optimal foraging theory. |
20. |
Explain how behavioral ecologists carry out cost-benefit analyses to determine how an animal should forage optimally. Explain how Zach demonstrated that crows feed optimally on whelks. |
21. |
Explain how predation risk may affect the foraging behavior of a prey species. |
22. |
Define and distinguish among promiscuous, monogamous, and polygamous mating relationships. Define and distinguish between polygyny and polyandry. |
23. |
Describe how the certainty of paternity influences the development of mating systems. |
24. |
Explain why males are more likely than females to provide parental care in fishes. |
25. |
Suggest an ultimate explanation for a female stalk-eyed fly’s preference for mates with relatively long eyestalks. |
26. |
Agonistic behavior in males is often a ritualized contest rather than combat. Suggest an ultimate explanation for this. |
27. |
Explain how game theory may be used to evaluate alternative behavioral strategies. |
28. |
Define inclusive fitness and reciprocal altruism. Discuss conditions that would favor the evolution of altruistic behavior. |
29. |
Relate the coefficient of relatedness to the concept of altruism. |
30. |
Define Hamilton’s rule and the concept of kin selection. |
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Social Learning and Sociobiology |
31. |
Define social learning and culture. |
32. |
Explain why mate choice copying by a female may increase her fitness. |
33. |
State the main premise of sociology. |
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