PBSI 311 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
Example of Antipredator Behavior (1) - ANS Luminescent "bombs" by deep sea worms
Example of Antipredator Behavior (2) - ANS ground squirrel responses to snakes
Regarding the case study of bomb-releasing deep-sea worm. What is thought to be the function
of the bombs? - ANS They are thought to scare off predators
Regarding the case study of bomb-releasing deep-sea worm. What body part do they originate
from? - ANS They are detachable gills from the head area of the worm
Regarding the case study of bomb-releasing deep-sea worm. Are these worms thought to be
related to mud-dwelling "bomb-less" worms? - ANS yes, they are thought to originate from
bomb-less mud-dwelling ancestor
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. Is the prey-
predator relationship between the ground squirrel and snakes a recent one? - ANS An
ancient rivalry from 1 million years
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. What 3 types
of antipredator behavior used against snakes? - ANS 1) Group mobbing, including biting &
harrassment, until snake leaves
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,2) Throwing dirt, pebbles, etc.
3) Specific snake alarm calls
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. How do
squirrel pups deal with the dangers of snakes at first emergence from their burrow? -
ANS Their immune system generates venom-binding proteins before they emerge from their
burrow
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. How does the
immune system contribute to antipredator defense in squirrel pups? - ANS The venom-
binding proteins in their blood provide protection from snake bites
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. How is the
appearance of this defence times with respect to pup emergence? - ANS It peaks 10 days
before they emerge from their burrow , preparing for the day they emerge
What are the 2 general types of antipredator behavior? - ANS 1) Avoid detection by predator
2) Predator encounter
What are 3 startegies of predator avoidance? - ANS 1) Blending into the environment
2) being quiet
3) choosing safe habitats
How does 'blending into the environment' work to protect prey animals? (NOTE: This strategy is
also called 'camouflage' or 'crypsis'; animals are said to be 'camouflaged' or 'cryptic.') -
ANS Reduces likelihood of detection by predators
Does this strategy (camouflage) always involve behavior? - ANS no, Coat color in the oldfield
(or beach) mouse is considered a genetic form of camouflage.
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,Active camouflage is a behavior-based version of 'blending in'. What are the 3 forms of active
camouflage that cuttlefish and their relative use? - ANS 1) Uniform: single color adopted
from background
2) Mottled: mixture of small dark and light splotches resembling background
3) Disruptive: mixture of large dark and light resembling background
Another predator avoidance strategy is 'being quiet'. What are the 2 examples that we
discussed in lecture? - ANS 1) Gulf toadfish: avoiding bottlenose dolphins
2) Wax moths: avoiding bats
Regarding the case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How do dolphins find
toadfish? - ANS Dolphins find toadfish by their boat whistle sounds.
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How do toadfish
avoid detection by dolphins? - ANS By decreasing their boat whistle call when they hear
dolphin foraging calls, specifically pops
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. What sort of
vocalizations are made by dolphins? - ANS They make high frequency whistles, for
communication
Clicks and low-frequency pops for foraging
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How did
scientists test for the ability of toadfish to distinguish predatory dolphin sounds? - ANS By
playing different recordings of whistles, pops, and a mix along with a snapping shrimp control
and observing toadfish call rate
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How do dolphin
'pops' affect stress hormone levels in toadfish? - ANS *Stress hormone levels increased in
fish exposed to dolphin "pops"
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, Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. Do other sounds
have the same effect as dolphin pops and stress hormone levels? - ANS The control snapping
shrimp sounds did not have an effect
Regarding the case study of the greater wax moth and bat avoidance. What are the 2 key
problems that female wax moths face that are related to moth and bat sounds? - ANS 1)
Male mating calls sound very similar to bat calls
2) Female "wing-fanning" response is supposed to attract male moths but attracts bats as well
Regarding the case study of the greater wax moth and bat avoidance. What did the 2 playback
experiments involve and what were the key results? - ANS Experiment 1:
1) Male mating calls
2) Bat echolocation calls
*Females reduced fanning behavior in response to bat calls
Experiment 2:
1) Bat call during search for prey
2) Bat call during attack on moth
*Females reduced fanning behavior more in response to attack
A third predator avoidance strategy is 'choosing safe habitats'. What were the 2 case studies
discussed in relation to this strategy? - ANS 1) Nesting site choice in parrots and
2) Conservation concerns in relocating animals to new environments with new predators
Regarding the case study of nesting site and choice in parrots. What were the 2 types of nesting
choice preference in Brightsmith's survey of parrot nesting behavior? - ANS TC- Tree cavity
OC- Other cavity
Regarding the case study of nesting site and choice in parrots. Based on a combination of
genetic and behavioral analysis, which type was suggested to occur in the ancestral parrot? -
ANS Tree cavity
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CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST
VERSION 2025/2026.
Example of Antipredator Behavior (1) - ANS Luminescent "bombs" by deep sea worms
Example of Antipredator Behavior (2) - ANS ground squirrel responses to snakes
Regarding the case study of bomb-releasing deep-sea worm. What is thought to be the function
of the bombs? - ANS They are thought to scare off predators
Regarding the case study of bomb-releasing deep-sea worm. What body part do they originate
from? - ANS They are detachable gills from the head area of the worm
Regarding the case study of bomb-releasing deep-sea worm. Are these worms thought to be
related to mud-dwelling "bomb-less" worms? - ANS yes, they are thought to originate from
bomb-less mud-dwelling ancestor
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. Is the prey-
predator relationship between the ground squirrel and snakes a recent one? - ANS An
ancient rivalry from 1 million years
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. What 3 types
of antipredator behavior used against snakes? - ANS 1) Group mobbing, including biting &
harrassment, until snake leaves
1 | Page @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,2) Throwing dirt, pebbles, etc.
3) Specific snake alarm calls
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. How do
squirrel pups deal with the dangers of snakes at first emergence from their burrow? -
ANS Their immune system generates venom-binding proteins before they emerge from their
burrow
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. How does the
immune system contribute to antipredator defense in squirrel pups? - ANS The venom-
binding proteins in their blood provide protection from snake bites
Regarding the case study of ground squirrel reactions to gopher and rattlesnakes. How is the
appearance of this defence times with respect to pup emergence? - ANS It peaks 10 days
before they emerge from their burrow , preparing for the day they emerge
What are the 2 general types of antipredator behavior? - ANS 1) Avoid detection by predator
2) Predator encounter
What are 3 startegies of predator avoidance? - ANS 1) Blending into the environment
2) being quiet
3) choosing safe habitats
How does 'blending into the environment' work to protect prey animals? (NOTE: This strategy is
also called 'camouflage' or 'crypsis'; animals are said to be 'camouflaged' or 'cryptic.') -
ANS Reduces likelihood of detection by predators
Does this strategy (camouflage) always involve behavior? - ANS no, Coat color in the oldfield
(or beach) mouse is considered a genetic form of camouflage.
2 | Page @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,Active camouflage is a behavior-based version of 'blending in'. What are the 3 forms of active
camouflage that cuttlefish and their relative use? - ANS 1) Uniform: single color adopted
from background
2) Mottled: mixture of small dark and light splotches resembling background
3) Disruptive: mixture of large dark and light resembling background
Another predator avoidance strategy is 'being quiet'. What are the 2 examples that we
discussed in lecture? - ANS 1) Gulf toadfish: avoiding bottlenose dolphins
2) Wax moths: avoiding bats
Regarding the case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How do dolphins find
toadfish? - ANS Dolphins find toadfish by their boat whistle sounds.
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How do toadfish
avoid detection by dolphins? - ANS By decreasing their boat whistle call when they hear
dolphin foraging calls, specifically pops
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. What sort of
vocalizations are made by dolphins? - ANS They make high frequency whistles, for
communication
Clicks and low-frequency pops for foraging
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How did
scientists test for the ability of toadfish to distinguish predatory dolphin sounds? - ANS By
playing different recordings of whistles, pops, and a mix along with a snapping shrimp control
and observing toadfish call rate
Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. How do dolphin
'pops' affect stress hormone levels in toadfish? - ANS *Stress hormone levels increased in
fish exposed to dolphin "pops"
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, Regarding the case studythe case study of gulf toadfish and dolphin avoidance. Do other sounds
have the same effect as dolphin pops and stress hormone levels? - ANS The control snapping
shrimp sounds did not have an effect
Regarding the case study of the greater wax moth and bat avoidance. What are the 2 key
problems that female wax moths face that are related to moth and bat sounds? - ANS 1)
Male mating calls sound very similar to bat calls
2) Female "wing-fanning" response is supposed to attract male moths but attracts bats as well
Regarding the case study of the greater wax moth and bat avoidance. What did the 2 playback
experiments involve and what were the key results? - ANS Experiment 1:
1) Male mating calls
2) Bat echolocation calls
*Females reduced fanning behavior in response to bat calls
Experiment 2:
1) Bat call during search for prey
2) Bat call during attack on moth
*Females reduced fanning behavior more in response to attack
A third predator avoidance strategy is 'choosing safe habitats'. What were the 2 case studies
discussed in relation to this strategy? - ANS 1) Nesting site choice in parrots and
2) Conservation concerns in relocating animals to new environments with new predators
Regarding the case study of nesting site and choice in parrots. What were the 2 types of nesting
choice preference in Brightsmith's survey of parrot nesting behavior? - ANS TC- Tree cavity
OC- Other cavity
Regarding the case study of nesting site and choice in parrots. Based on a combination of
genetic and behavioral analysis, which type was suggested to occur in the ancestral parrot? -
ANS Tree cavity
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