ANSC 3090 Questions with Complete Solutions
ethology Correct Answer-scientific study of animal behaviour
how animals interact w/their world and each other
applied ethology Correct Answer-science of understanding and
managing the behaviour of animals under human care (or that we come
into conflict w/)
who are the pioneers of ethology and what was their influence? Correct
Answer-karl von frisch
konrad lorenz
niko tinbergen
changed observation of animal behaviour from hobby to scientific
discipline
first to show that behaviour is adaptive in the evolutionary sense
karl von frisch Correct Answer-austrian
studied dancing honeybees and found external factors (polarized light,
distance, quality of resource) predicted different dance characteristics
(direction of forward movement, duration of waggles, number of loops)
Konrad Lorenz Correct Answer-austrian
most controversial of the 3 pioneers of ethology
thought domesticated animals were degenerate compared to wild ones,
these theories v popular w/nazis
,studied imprinting in chicks
niko tinbergen Correct Answer-dutch
studied causes and functions of specific behaviour patterns, particularly
eggshell removal by gulls
found that when eggs hatched, exposed inner white of shell -> attracts
predators
- when eggshells were placed back into nests or eggs were painted
white, predation increased significantly
work done by tinbergen and lorenz Correct Answer-classified effects of
internal and external stimuli on animal responses - rules that guide them
ex. super-normal cues -> if bird is given giant egg, will brood giant egg
despite no egg like that existing in her evolutionary history bc the only
cue that exists for her is tiny egg = small yolk = bad therefore big egg =
good
what are tinbergen's 4 whys? Correct Answer-aka levels of explanation
framework for thinking about animal behaviour
1) phylogenetic
2) developmental
3) causal
4) functional
, phylogenetic level of explanation (what is it, examples, what does it ask)
Correct Answer-genetic inheritances form previous generations ex.
influence of taxonomic group or effects of natural/artificial selection
ex. the sheep is frightened of dogs bc similar behaviour was adaptive in
her ancestors
asks how an animal's evolutionary past effect its behaviour, how closely
related species compare, what affects breed/parentage has
developmental level of explanation Correct Answer-accounts for an
animal's behaviour in terms of their experience or developmental stage
ex. piglets are fleeing bc they were exposed to high corticosterone in
utero, cat is friendly bc they were well socialized
asks how early experience affects form/timing of a particular behaviour
expressed later in life, how current stage of development affects
form/timing of a behaviour
causal level of explanation Correct Answer-immediate, current factors
that initiate, control, and terminate behaviour or the underlying
mechanisms/how
can be internal or external
ex.lynx is eating quickly bc she's very hungry, robin is singing bc his T
levels are high
asks how do internal and external factors initiate, maintain, and
terminate a behaviour and what machinery is involved in the behaviour?
functional level of explanation Correct Answer-beneficial outcomes of
the behaviour and how they outweight any costs
ethology Correct Answer-scientific study of animal behaviour
how animals interact w/their world and each other
applied ethology Correct Answer-science of understanding and
managing the behaviour of animals under human care (or that we come
into conflict w/)
who are the pioneers of ethology and what was their influence? Correct
Answer-karl von frisch
konrad lorenz
niko tinbergen
changed observation of animal behaviour from hobby to scientific
discipline
first to show that behaviour is adaptive in the evolutionary sense
karl von frisch Correct Answer-austrian
studied dancing honeybees and found external factors (polarized light,
distance, quality of resource) predicted different dance characteristics
(direction of forward movement, duration of waggles, number of loops)
Konrad Lorenz Correct Answer-austrian
most controversial of the 3 pioneers of ethology
thought domesticated animals were degenerate compared to wild ones,
these theories v popular w/nazis
,studied imprinting in chicks
niko tinbergen Correct Answer-dutch
studied causes and functions of specific behaviour patterns, particularly
eggshell removal by gulls
found that when eggs hatched, exposed inner white of shell -> attracts
predators
- when eggshells were placed back into nests or eggs were painted
white, predation increased significantly
work done by tinbergen and lorenz Correct Answer-classified effects of
internal and external stimuli on animal responses - rules that guide them
ex. super-normal cues -> if bird is given giant egg, will brood giant egg
despite no egg like that existing in her evolutionary history bc the only
cue that exists for her is tiny egg = small yolk = bad therefore big egg =
good
what are tinbergen's 4 whys? Correct Answer-aka levels of explanation
framework for thinking about animal behaviour
1) phylogenetic
2) developmental
3) causal
4) functional
, phylogenetic level of explanation (what is it, examples, what does it ask)
Correct Answer-genetic inheritances form previous generations ex.
influence of taxonomic group or effects of natural/artificial selection
ex. the sheep is frightened of dogs bc similar behaviour was adaptive in
her ancestors
asks how an animal's evolutionary past effect its behaviour, how closely
related species compare, what affects breed/parentage has
developmental level of explanation Correct Answer-accounts for an
animal's behaviour in terms of their experience or developmental stage
ex. piglets are fleeing bc they were exposed to high corticosterone in
utero, cat is friendly bc they were well socialized
asks how early experience affects form/timing of a particular behaviour
expressed later in life, how current stage of development affects
form/timing of a behaviour
causal level of explanation Correct Answer-immediate, current factors
that initiate, control, and terminate behaviour or the underlying
mechanisms/how
can be internal or external
ex.lynx is eating quickly bc she's very hungry, robin is singing bc his T
levels are high
asks how do internal and external factors initiate, maintain, and
terminate a behaviour and what machinery is involved in the behaviour?
functional level of explanation Correct Answer-beneficial outcomes of
the behaviour and how they outweight any costs
