CLEP Biology Animal Behavior and Reproduction Flashcards

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is best described as:

Answer: An innate stereotyped behavior triggered by a specific sign stimulus

Fixed action patterns are genetically programmed, invariant behavioral sequences triggered by specific stimuli that run to completion once initiated, regardless of outcome.

The waggle dance of honeybees communicates which information to the colony?

Answer: Direction and distance to a food source

The waggle dance performed by scout bees encodes the direction relative to the sun and distance to food sources through dance angle and duration, respectively.

Imprinting is a form of learning that differs from other learning because it:

Answer: Occurs during a critical period and is largely irreversible

Imprinting occurs during a sensitive critical period in early development and creates lasting behavioral attachments, as demonstrated by Lorenz's goslings following him as their parent.

Altruistic behavior in animals is best explained by which evolutionary concept?

Answer: Kin selection increasing an individual's inclusive fitness

Kin selection explains altruism because assisting relatives who share copies of genes can increase an individual's inclusive fitness even when the behavior is personally costly.

Which type of learning involves forming an association between a neutral stimulus and a biologically meaningful stimulus?

Answer: Classical conditioning

Classical conditioning, demonstrated by Pavlov's experiments, involves pairing a neutral stimulus with a significant stimulus until the neutral stimulus alone elicits the conditioned response.

Territorial behavior in animals primarily functions to:

Answer: Secure exclusive access to resources and regulate local population density

Territorial behavior gives an individual exclusive access to food, mates, and nesting sites, and can regulate population density by excluding competitors from an area.