Ecology Behavioral Ecology Concepts 2

Question 1

Which term describes the phenomenon where an animal copies the behavior of others to acquire resources, rather than searching independently?

Accepted Answer

Local enhancement

Answer

Local enhancement occurs when an individual is attracted to a location where others are feeding, increasing its own foraging success without directly copying the specific behavior.

Question 2

In the context of sperm competition, males that produce more sperm per ejaculate relative to testes size are expected to live in societies where females mate with:

Accepted Answer

Multiple males

Answer

Sperm competition intensity increases with polyandry, so males in multi-male mating systems evolve larger relative testes and higher sperm counts.

Question 3

A female songbird preferentially pairs with males that have the most elaborate plumage even when those males provide no parental care. This best illustrates:

Accepted Answer

Runaway sexual selection

Answer

Runaway (Fisherian) selection occurs when female preference and the male trait become genetically correlated, driving ever-more-elaborate ornaments beyond survival-based optima.

Question 4

What is 'dear enemy' recognition in territorial animals?

Accepted Answer

Reduced aggression toward familiar neighbors compared to strangers

Answer

The dear enemy effect describes the observation that residents are less aggressive toward established neighbors than toward unfamiliar strangers, because neighbor boundaries are already settled.

Question 5

Frequency-dependent selection in behavioral polymorphisms means that a rare strategy tends to:

Accepted Answer

Gain a fitness advantage over common strategies

Answer

Negative frequency-dependent selection maintains behavioral polymorphisms because rare strategies experience less competition and therefore enjoy higher relative fitness.

Ecology Practice Test

Ecology Practice Test

Ecology Behavioral Ecology Concepts 2