Question 1

While interest in the study of animal behavior has existed for thousands of years, which of the following goals exemplifies a more recent motive for studying animals?
A) being able to make predictions about the behavior of prey species
B) insuring animal welfare, both in the wild and in captivity
C) knowing which animals are likely to fight most fiercely when trapped
D) learning which animals are trainable and useful for work

Accepted Answer

The more recent motive for studying animals is focused on ensuring their welfare, both in the wild and in captivity. This reflects a shift towards ethical considerations and the well-being of animals, which is a relatively modern aspect of animal behavior studies.

Question 2

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with a behavior's underlying physical structure or related mental processes is
A) development.
B) evolution.
C) mechanism.
D) survival value.

Accepted Answer

Tinbergen's question regarding "mechanism" focuses on the biological and neurophysiological processes that underlie a particular behavior, including its physical structure and related mental processes.

Question 3

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with whether or not a behavioral tendency changes over an individual's lifetime is
A) development.
B) evolution.
C) mechanism.
D) survival value.

Accepted Answer

Tinbergen's "development" question focuses on how behavior changes over an individual's lifetime, including the influences of genes, environment, and experience on the development of behavior.

Question 4

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with the evaluation of the risks associated with a behavior relative to its benefits is
A) development.
B) evolution.
C) mechanism.
D) survival value.

Accepted Answer

The question that deals most explicitly with evaluating the risks associated with a behavior relative to its benefits is "survival value." This question focuses on understanding why a behavior might be advantageous or disadvantageous for an organism's survival and reproduction, thus directly addressing the assessment of risks and benefits.

Question 5

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with how a behavior developed over the history of a species as a whole is
A) development.
B) evolution.
C) mechanism.
D) survival value.

Accepted Answer

Niko Tinbergen's "four questions" are designed to explain animal behavior from different perspectives. The question that deals with how a behavior developed over the history of a species as a whole is related to evolution. This perspective seeks to understand the origins of a behavior and how it has changed or been shaped over time through the process of natural selection.

Question 6

In the extended example in the text, a number of interesting issues were raised about the social and reproductive behavior of dwarf mongooses. Which of the following statements accurately describes the dwarf mongoose?
A) Dwarf mongooses have a patriarchal society.
B) In many packs only the dominant pair breed.
C) Most subordinate individuals disperse from the pack and establish their own breeding groups.
D) Subordinate individuals frequently attempt to kill the offspring of the dominant pair.

Accepted Answer

In many social animal species, including dwarf mongooses, reproductive behavior is often structured around a dominant pair, with only this pair breeding within a group or pack. This system helps to control population growth within the group and ensures that the limited resources are available for the offspring of the dominant pair, who are likely to be the strongest and most fit to survive.

Question 7

If you are a subordinate dwarf mongoose at a time when resources are scarce you will probably
A) disperse and attempt to form a new pack.
B) disperse and join a pack without a breeder of your own sex.
C) remain in the pack and assist in rearing the dominants' offspring.
D) remain in the pack and produce offspring yourself.

Accepted Answer

Subordinate dwarf mongooses typically remain in their pack and assist in rearing the dominant pair's offspring, especially during times when resources are scarce. This cooperative behavior increases the survival chances of the pack's young and is a common strategy in eusocial and cooperative breeding species.

Question 8

It has been determined that reproductive suppression in the dwarf mongoose is not absolute. Which of the following statements about reproductive suppression is NOT true.
A) A dominant female is able to control a subordinate's reproductive behavior only if she can behaviorally prevent a subordinate from mating.
B) DNA fingerprinting has revealed that as many as 25% of offspring had subordinate parents.
C) Reproductive suppression is most intense when the number of young that can be raised in a group is limited by the scarcity of resources.
D) Subordinate individuals may be allowed to breed within the pack under conditions in which they might otherwise benefit more by leaving.

Accepted Answer

Reproductive suppression in dwarf mongooses involves more than just the dominant female preventing subordinates from mating through behavioral control. The existence of offspring from subordinate parents, as revealed by DNA fingerprinting, and the conditions under which subordinates are allowed to breed, indicate that reproductive dynamics are influenced by various factors, including resource availability and the potential benefits to subordinates of staying within the group.

Question 9

The finding that reproductive suppression in dwarf mongoose females occurs by means of both hormonal and behavioral controls exemplifies an emphasis on which of Tinbergen's four questions?
A) Development
B) Evolution
C) Mechanism
D) Survival value

Accepted Answer

The emphasis on hormonal and behavioral controls to explain reproductive suppression in dwarf mongoose females pertains to the "Mechanism" aspect of Tinbergen's four questions, as it focuses on the immediate causes and physiological processes underlying a behavior.

Question 10

The finding that the observed degree of reproductive suppression practiced by the dominant females in a group allowed them to maximize their reproductive success exemplifies an emphasis on which of Tinbergen's four questions?
A) Development
B) Evolution
C) Mechanism
D) Survival value

Accepted Answer

The emphasis is on the survival value, as it relates to how the behavior of reproductive suppression by dominant females contributes to maximizing their reproductive success and thus their fitness.

Question 11

Which of the following statements regarding hypotheses is TRUE.
A) Different hypotheses will always lead to different predictions.
B) Hypotheses are proposed answers to questions that must be tested.
C) Hypotheses are questions that result from observations.
D) Only one hypothesis can be tested in a single study.

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses are indeed proposed answers to specific questions that researchers aim to test through experimentation or observation. They are not merely questions themselves (C), nor do they always lead to different predictions (A), as multiple hypotheses can sometimes predict the same outcomes. Additionally, it is possible to test more than one hypothesis in a single study (D), contrary to the exclusivity suggested.

Question 12

"Male burrowing owls scatter manure around the entrance to their burrow in order to attract females." This statement is an example of a(n)
A) hypothesis.
B) observation.
C) prediction.
D) research question.

Accepted Answer

This statement is an example of a hypothesis because it proposes a specific reason (attracting females) for a behavior (scattering manure around the entrance to their burrow) observed in male burrowing owls, suggesting a testable explanation.

Question 13

Each of the following hypotheses suggests a different prediction about the timing of manure scattering by male burrowing owls. Which of them is most strongly supported by the finding that in 87% of burrows manure scattering occurred after pair bonds were already formed?
A) Mate attraction
B) Sign that burrow is occupied
C) Olfactory camouflage
D) Prey attraction

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each of the following hypotheses suggests a...

Question 14

The prediction that a nonresident male burrowing owl would be less likely to enter a burrow if manure was scattered around the entrance than one with no scattered manure is most clearly derived from which of the following hypotheses?
A) Mate attraction
B) Sign that burrow is occupied
C) Olfactory camouflage
D) Prey attraction

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis that manure scattered around the entrance of a burrow signals that the burrow is occupied explains why a nonresident male burrowing owl would be less likely to enter. It suggests that the presence of manure acts as a territorial or occupancy marker, deterring intrusion by indicating that the burrow is already claimed.

Question 15

The prediction that more of the small arthropod species that burrowing owls typically eat will be attracted to nests with more manure than to nests with less manure is most clearly derived from which of the following hypotheses?
A) Mate attraction
B) Sign that burrow is occupied
C) Olfactory camouflage
D) Prey attraction

Accepted Answer

The prediction is based on the hypothesis that more manure at nests attracts more of the small arthropod species, which are the prey of burrowing owls, thus making it a case of prey attraction.

Question 16

The finding that the presence or absence of manure at the entrance of the nests of burrowing owls made no difference in the probability of predation of the nest most clearly contradicts which of the following hypotheses?
A) Mate attraction
B) Sign that burrow is occupied
C) Olfactory camouflage
D) Prey attraction

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis most clearly contradicted is that manure is used for olfactory camouflage to protect the nest from predators. If the presence or absence of manure made no difference in predation rates, it suggests that manure does not function to mask the scent of the owls or their young from predators.

Question 17

A decline in the number of burrowing owls, to the point that they are listed as threatened or endangered in several states, has been found to be related to a decline in numbers of
A) arthropods.
B) cattle.
C) coyotes.
D) prairie dogs.

Accepted Answer

The decline in the number of burrowing owls is related to a decline in numbers of prairie dogs. Burrowing owls often inhabit burrows made by prairie dogs, and a decrease in prairie dog populations can lead to a loss of habitat for the owls.

Quiz 1: Introduction

While interest in the study of animal behavior has existed for thousands of years, which of the following goals exemplifies a more recent motive for studying animals?

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with a behavior's underlying physical structure or related mental processes is

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with whether or not a behavioral tendency changes over an individual's lifetime is

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with the evaluation of the risks associated with a behavior relative to its benefits is

Of Niko Tinbergen's "four questions," the one that deals most explicitly with how a behavior developed over the history of a species as a whole is

In the extended example in the text, a number of interesting issues were raised about the social and reproductive behavior of dwarf mongooses. Which of the following statements accurately describes the dwarf mongoose?

If you are a subordinate dwarf mongoose at a time when resources are scarce you will probably

It has been determined that reproductive suppression in the dwarf mongoose is not absolute. Which of the following statements about reproductive suppression is NOT true.

The finding that reproductive suppression in dwarf mongoose females occurs by means of both hormonal and behavioral controls exemplifies an emphasis on which of Tinbergen's four questions?

The finding that the observed degree of reproductive suppression practiced by the dominant females in a group allowed them to maximize their reproductive success exemplifies an emphasis on which of Tinbergen's four questions?

Which of the following statements regarding hypotheses is TRUE.

"Male burrowing owls scatter manure around the entrance to their burrow in order to attract females." This statement is an example of a(n)

Each of the following hypotheses suggests a different prediction about the timing of manure scattering by male burrowing owls. Which of them is most strongly supported by the finding that in 87% of burrows manure scattering occurred after pair bonds were already formed?

The prediction that a nonresident male burrowing owl would be less likely to enter a burrow if manure was scattered around the entrance than one with no scattered manure is most clearly derived from which of the following hypotheses?

The prediction that more of the small arthropod species that burrowing owls typically eat will be attracted to nests with more manure than to nests with less manure is most clearly derived from which of the following hypotheses?

The finding that the presence or absence of manure at the entrance of the nests of burrowing owls made no difference in the probability of predation of the nest most clearly contradicts which of the following hypotheses?

A decline in the number of burrowing owls, to the point that they are listed as threatened or endangered in several states, has been found to be related to a decline in numbers of