Review Questions - Chapter 49 “Behavioral Ecology”

(Ignore page numbers) (KEY)

1. What explains the fact that coastal and inland garter snakes of the same species have different food 
preferences? A. Behavioral responses depend on neural patterns, which are determined
by genes.
B.. Illustration: Two populations of garter snakes in California show different feeding
preferences from birth.
C. The feeding preferences differ by geographical location and are the result of natural
selection of genes for taste and smell.

1. Describe the intermediate response obtained in Stevan Arnold’s experiment with coastal
and inland garter snakes. [p.704]

Hybrids of these two gartet snakes demonstrated an intermediate taste for slugs.

2. Steven Arnold found evidence of the _genetic_________ basis of behavior by studying

feeding preferences of coastal and inland populations of garter snakes. [p.704]
3. Describe the origin and formation of a song system. [pp.704-705]

Hormones are signaling molecules that can affect a series of behavioral responses.
2. Illustration: Two different species of sparrows hear recorded songs of the
other species, but each produces the same song as their ancestors did.
3. Changing photoperiod causes the pineal gland to reduce its melatonin
secretion, which in turn allows the gonads to release their hormones.
a. Estrogen in males organizes the development of the “song
system.”
b. During the breeding season, testosterone activates the singing.

4. Define sign stimuli. [p.705]

One or two simple, well defined cues that trigger a suitable response.

5. Describe and cite an example of a fixed action pattern. [p.705]

Illustrations: Newly hatched cuckoos respond to the shape of eggs in the nest by
pushing them out; tongue-flicking, orientation, and strike of a newborn garter snake
are instinctive; and human infants smile at a face-sized mask with two eyelike spots.
 6. When animals incorporate and process information gained from specific experiences and
then use the information to vary or change responses to stimuli, it is __learned________
behavior. [p.706]
7.
8. Define each of the following categories of learned behavior and give one example of
each: imprinting, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, habituation, spatial or
latent learning, and insight learning. [p.706] Refer to PPP

9. What is meant by reproductive success? [p.707]

Reproductive success refers to the survival and production of offspring.

10. __Adaptive________ behavior is any behavior that promotes the propagation of an

individual’s genes and tends to occur at increased frequency in successive generations.
[p.707]
11. __ Social behavior ________ behavior refers to the cooperative, interdependent
relationships among individuals of the species. [p.707]
12. Distinguish between selfish behavior and altruistic behavior. [p.707]

Selfish behavior occurs when an individual increases its own chances of producing
offspring.
Altruistic behavior is self-sacrificing behavior that helps others and decreases the
individual’s own chance to reproduce.

13. A(n) _territory_________ is an area that one or more individuals defend against
competitors. [p.707]
14. Examples of __ Communication Signals ________ signals are chemical, visual,
acoustical, and tactile. [p.708]
15. Define the roles of signalers and signal receivers. [p.708]

Information laden signals sent from the signaler are meant to change the behavior of the
receiver.

16. Distinguish between signaling and priming pheromones, and cite an example of each.
[p.708]
 17. A(n) ___threat_______ signal is illustrated by a zebra with laid-back ears and a gaping
mouth. [p.708]
18. Describe one example of a threat display. [pp.708-709]

Above (#17)

19. Ritualization is often developed to an amazing degree in __courtship________ displays

between potential mates. [p.709]
20. An example of a(n) __tactile________ signal is the physical contact of bees in a hive
maintaining physical contact during the dance of a returning foraging bee. [p.709]
21. When soldier termites detect ant scents meant for other ants and kill ants on cue, the
termites are said to be __ Illegitimate Receivers ________ of a signal meant for
individuals of a different species. [p.709]
22. Assassin bugs covered with termite scent are able to use deception to hunt termite victims
more easily and as such are acting as ___ Illegitimate _______ signalers. [p.709]
23. Natural selection tends to favor communication signals that promote
__reproductive________ success. [p.709]
24. Competition among members of one sex for access to mates and selection of mates are
the result of a microevolutionary process called sexual selection [p.710]

25. Be able to discuss mate selection processes by female hangingflies and the female sage grouse. 
[p.710] Male sage grouse gather on a communal display ground (a lek) to strut their
stuff, hoping to attract the attention of the females gathered around.
c. Male hangingflies kill a moth, which they then present as a gift to females, who will
mate only so long as the food holds

26. Explain the "cost-benefit approach" that evolutionary biologists utilize to find answers to
the questions about social life. [p.712]

If the costs out way the benefits, then you have an unstable system and it won’t
perpetuate through time. However if the benefits out way the costs, then the system
has a chance of moving through time.

Example: The honeybee colony

In insect societies such as bees, sterile guards may protect the queen by stinging an
intruder and thereby committing suicide.
By their self-sacrificing behavior, bees increase the number of genetically similar off-
spring produced.
27. Studies of Australian sawfly caterpillars indicate __________ predator avoidance. [p.712]

28. Define selfish herd; cite an example. [p.712]

Some animals live in groups simply to “use” others as a shield against predators.
Bluegill sunfish near the center of nesting sites are safer from attacks by largemouth bass
than those at the periphery.

29. Members of baboon troops recognize a Dominance Hierarchy in which some

individuals have adopted a subordinate status with respect to the others. [pp.712-713]
30. List disadvantages to sociality. [p.713]

Cooperative Predator Avoidance

1. In a large group, a prey animal is less likely to become a victim.
2. Social animals are better able to repel a predator through group defense.

31. Hamilton’s theory of __indirect________ selection relates to caring for non descendant
relatives and how this favors genes associated with helpful behavior. [p.714]
32. With ___altruistic_______ behavior, an individual behaves in a self-sacrificing way that
helps others but decreases its own chance of reproductive success. [p.714]
33. Be able to discuss the self-sacrificing behavior of honeybees. [p.714]

Example: The honeybee colony

In insect societies such as bees, sterile guards may protect the queen by
stinging an intruder and thereby committing suicide.
By their self-sacrificing behavior, bees increase the number of genetically
similar offspring produced.

34. Explain how DNA fingerprinting was used to establish that self-sacrificing mole-rats help
to perpetuate a very high proportion of genes (alleles) that they carry—even though they
are not the reproducing mole-rats. Refer to PPP and text
35. It is possible to test evolutionary hypotheses regarding the __________ value of human
behaviors; discuss human adoption practices in this context. [p.715]
36. "__________" means only that a specified trait has proved beneficial in the transmission
of the genes of an individual that are responsible for that trait.