Chapter 51: Q51.4-1CC (page 1158)
Explain why geographic variation in garter snake prey choice might indicate that the behavior evolved by natural selection.
The divergent foraging behavior has been evolving through the evolutionary mechanism, such as natural selection due to geographic variation in a garter snake.
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Acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) stash acorns in storage holes they drill in trees. When these woodpeckers breed, the offspring from previous years often help with parental duties. Activities of these nonbreeding helpers include incubating eggs and defending stashed acorns. Propose some questions about the proximate and ultimate causation of these behaviors that a behavioral biologist could ask.
You are considering two optimal foraging models for the behavior of a mussel-feeding shorebird, the oystercatcher. In model A, the energetic reward increases solely with mussel size. In model B, you take into consideration that larger mussels are more difficult to open. Draw a graph of reward (energy benefit on a scale of 0–10) versus mussel length (scale of 0–70 mm) for each model. Assume that mussels under 10 mm provide no benefit and are ignored by the birds. Also assume that mussels start becoming difficult to open when they reach 40 mm in length and impossible to open when 70 mm long. Considering the graphs you have drawn, indicate what observations and measurements you would want to make in this shorebird’s habitat to help determine which model is more accurate.
If an egg rolls out of the nest, a mother greylag goose will retrieve it by nudging it with her beak and head. If researchers remove the egg or substitute a ball during this process, the goose continues to bob her beak and head while she moves back to the nest. Explain how and why this behavior occurs.
Learning is defined as a change in behavior as a result of experience. In a short essay (100–150 words), describe how heritable information contributes to the acquisition of learning, using some examples from imprinting and associative learning.
How does the average number of drops required to break open a whelk depend on platform height for a drop of 5 meters or less? For drops of more than 5 meters?
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