Chapter Study Questions

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Chapter 12

Chapter Study Questions

This activity contains 17 questions.

Match the key terms in this chapter listed below with the phrase that is the best match for it.

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	kin selection

	direct fitness

	eusociality

	indirect fitness

	greenbeard effect

	inclusive fitness

1.1 total reproductive success of an individual, including reproduction by the individual and also reproduction by related kin.

1.2 fitness resulting from personal reproduction.

1.3 fitness resulting from reproduction of kin.

1.4 natural selection that favors the spread of alleles that increase reproduction by related individuals

1.5 a theoretical model of a type of allele for altruistic behavior that could spread through a population via recognition of similar traits, without the involvement of kin selection or reciprocal altruism

1.6 a social system involving overlap in generations, cooperative care of young, and nonreproductive individuals

What is Hamilton's rule? What are its three mathematical terms, and how are they calculated?

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All of the following describe real experimental results. However, one does not support the predictions of Hamilton's rule. Which one?

Wood mouse sperm will sacrifice themselves to assist a "sibling" sperm to fertilize an egg. Prairie dogs are more likely to give alarm calls to a simulated badger attack if they have kin living nearby. Twenty percent of "in-law" bee-eaters that are not related to other birds at the nest will help raise the young anyway. Coots have evolved discriminatory mechanisms to detect and reject eggs that are not their own.

Which of the following correctly complete the statement, "Reciprocal altruism directed toward non-kin may evolve when _______________"?

Individuals that do not reciprocate are not remembered Punishment is rare Individuals can recognize and remember other individuals Opportunities to offer altruism are rare The cost to the actor is only slightly higher than the benefit to the recipient

Should sibling rivalry be more or less common in species that are monogamous or polygamous? Why?

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Which of the following statements describe a "greenbeard" allele?

An allele that causes development of a trait, recognition of the trait in others, and altruistic behavior toward others that carry the trait. An allele that causes development of a trait, recognition of the trait in others, and encourages the evolution (at other loci) of altruistic behavior . A theoretical evolutionary mechanism proposed by Richard Dawkins that may occur in slime molds. A theoretical evolutionary mechanism that could drive an allele for altruism to high frequency without the involvement of kin selection or reciprocal altruism. An altruistic allele discovered by Richard Dawkins that causes cells to form green fruiting bodies ("beards") in Dictyostelium slime molds.

List the three features of true eusociality. Name two types of insects, and two types of non-insects, that have true eusociality.

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Now consider weaning conflict in more mathematical terms. Choose the correct ratio in the following description of weaning conflict: When B and C are calculated from the mother's perspective, weaning conflict for families of full siblings should begin when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4] and end when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4]. Weaning conflict for families of half siblings should begin when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4] and should end when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4].

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Choose the correct ratio in the following description of weaning conflict: When B and C are calculated from the offspring's perspective, weaning conflict for families of full siblings should begin when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4] and end when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4]. Weaning conflict for families of half siblings should begin when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4] and should end when B/C ratio is [1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4].

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Match the definition in this chapter listed below with the category of behavior that is the best match for it.

Using the pull-down menus, match each item in the left column to the corresponding item in the right column.


	spiteful behavior

	cooperative behavior

	altruistic behavior

	selfish behavior

10.1 Behavior that is costly to the actor, and beneficial to the recipient.

10.2 Behavior that is beneficial to the actor, and costly to the recipient.

10.3 Behavior that is costly to both actor and recipient.

10.4 Behavior that is beneficial to both actor and recipient.

What is the evidence that whistling is selfish and trilling is altruistic in Belding's ground squirrels? Was similar evidence presented for the black-tailed prairie dogs? What patterns in the data from the black-tailed prairie dogs suggest that alarm-calling is altruistic in that species too? How could you verify whether alarm-calling truly is altruistic in the black-tailed prairie dogs?

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Summarize the logic behind the haplodiploidy hypothesis of eusociality. What is the evidence in favor of and against this hypothesis? Describe two other hypotheses for the evolution of eusociality.

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Pied flycatchers are small birds that, like many small birds, often "mob" larger avian predators such as hawks, owls, and crows. During mobbing, several of the smaller birds harass the larger predator repeatedly until the predator leaves the area. Indrikis Krams and colleagues (2006) recently studied mobbing behavior of pied flycatchers presented with a stuffed Tawny Owl, a common predator of pied flycatcher nests. The stuffed owl was placed near and "looking at" one pied flycatcher nest (nest A), and within sight of another nest (nest B). In 17 control trials, the resident birds of nest A always began mobbing the owl, and birds from nearby nest B always assisted, joining the mobbing effort. The owl was later moved to nest B. Once again, the birds from nest B always mobbed the owl, and neighbor birds from nest A always assisted.

Krams et al. then repeated this experiment on different pied flycatchers, except that this time, the first time the owl was presented, the neighbor birds in nest B were captured and held in a cage, preventing them from assisting. In 17 trials at different nests, the nest A birds always tried to mob the owl, but this time they were unassisted. The nest B birds were then released and the owl was moved to nest B. The nest B birds always mobbed the owl, but this time, only 4 of the 17 pairs of nest A birds assisted.

Refer to the information above regarding pied flycatchers to answer these questions.

Part I: Is assisting an altruistic behavior? How can you tell, or what further evidence would you need? How many hypotheses can you think of for why mob-assisting behavior has evolved in pied flycatchers? How could you test your ideas?

Part II: Refer to the information above regarding pied flycatchers to answer these questions. Why did the nest A birds fail to assist their neighbors in the second experiment? Does this experimental result suggest which of your hypotheses might be correct? What else can you guess about pied flycatchers and their social systems?

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Menopause is an unusual feature seen in humans and some whales that have matrilineal social systems (family groups led by older females), such as pilot whales and orcas. Menopause involves a complete and sudden cessation of reproduction function relatively early in a healthy female's life. In humans and in these whales, females completely cease reproduction about one-half to two-thirds of the way through their life spans, but continue to assist siblings, offspring, and grand-offspring for the rest of their lives. (In most other animals, females continue to reproduce as long as they are alive.)

Part I: Refer to the information above regarding menopause to answer these questions. What must B and C be for an older female to cease reproduction and instead care for her grand-offspring?

Part II: Refer to the information above regarding menopause to answer this question. Can menopause in these two species be considered a form of eusociality - i.e. can the older females be considered a caste of nonreproductive workers?

Part III: Refer to the information above regarding menopause to answer this question. What traits of a species might favor evolution of menopause?

To create paragraphs in your essay response, type at the beginning of the paragraph, and at the end.

Jabberwocks can produce a maximum of four surviving offspring over their lifetimes. A group of Jabberwock cousins are surprised in the woods by a hunter. One cousin has the opportunity to save the others, but only by sacrificing her life. Assume that none of the cousins (including the actor) has had children and that all cousins (actor and recipients) would have four children if they survived. According to Hamilton's rule, the actor should sacrifice her life to save the others if the number of cousins she can save is greater than _____. Use the graphs to help with the calculations.

2184

The graphs plot the benefit/cost ratio vs. time for nursing in mammals. Correctly match each label on the graph with its meaning/interpretation.

Using the pull-down menus, match each item in the left column to the corresponding item in the right column.


	B

	C

	A

16.1 Beyond this time, maternal fitness is best served by weaning the offspring.

[hint]

16.2 This is the optimal weaning time for an offspring sharing maternal care with a group of full siblings.

[hint]

16.3 This is the optimal weaning time of an offspring sharing maternal care with a group of half-sibs.

[hint]

Heinsohn and Packer found that territory defense in female African lions defied the simple predictions of both reciprocity and kin selection theory based on which of the following?

The willingness of pride females to assist the "leader" in pride defense was independent of the degree of relatedness to other pride members.Some females always led and some always lagged in defense. Although the behavior of leading females suggested that they recognized the laggards, they did nothing to threaten laggards or to withhold benefits.Some females adopted a conditional strategy, helping immediately in some cases and lagging in other cases.The first two choices are correct.

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