Animal Behavior, BI 376

Fall, 2001

Final Exam

Instructions:

1) After receiving the exam, you are free to work on the answers in any classroom in Boyd Hall.

2) You may not use any information other than what you have stored in your brain (no notes, books, etc.)

3) Please limit your answers to the space provided beneath each answer. Feel free to use labeled diagrams (i.e. - graphs) to enhance your answers. Write clearly and concisely.

4) You have 1.5 hours to complete this examination. Remember that you have agreed not to discuss this examination with anyone else in the class until all have taken it (We will let you know in class).

5) Please sign below if you agree to the above policies.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Honor Statement: I have read the above instructions and agree to them. I promise to neither give nor receive any help on this examination.

Signed,

 

 

Short Answer. Choose 3/4 questions to address(@10 pts)

1) We spent an entire class period watching one of "The Trials of Life" videos entitled "Talking to Strangers". Using 2-3 examples from that video, explain how auditory signals can be used to communicate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Compare and contrast the dispersal patterns of birds versus mammals from their place of birth. What might be responsible for this pattern?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Provide evidence form our discussions that heredity (genes) affect an animal's habitat choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Briefly describe both the proximate and ultimate factors of whale or eel migration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essay Questions: Answer the following questions in essay format (a paragraph or two with topic sentences followed by information supporting the topic sentence). Labeled figures or graphs are encouraged but be sure to explain these with text. You can also use the back side of the sheets of paper. ANSWER 4 out of 5 (@17 pts).

1) We talked throughout the semester about important aspects to consider when it comes to designing experiments in animal behavior. What important design principles did you use to carry out your long-term experiment? What would you change if you had a chance to do your experiment over again? Hint – think hard about your Materials and Methods section in order to answer this.

2) Discuss at least 4 specific studies that show that behavior is affected/controlled by genes. Be sure to develop each "story" adequately – do not just list examples.

3) Discuss the physiological mechanisms that allow a neuron: a) to carry information along an axon; b) to communicate with other neurons and to c) act as a decision maker/computer.

4) Discuss how the presence or absence of hormones affects the development of behavior.

5) You are interested in the feeding behavior of a common bird species from the tropics. Describe what kinds of experiments you might perform to find out a) what kind of rules the animal follows when it is feeding, b) what it feeds on, c) whether it uses a search image to look for food, d) whether it eats everything that it sees. Be sure to mention what potential results might mean about the animals overall feeding strategy.

2 pts - Please fill in the attached Peer Grading Sheet.