PBSI 311 EXAM 2 WITH ALL Q UESTIO NS
AND ANSWERS
In the context of animal behavior studies, what does
cooperation mean? -ANSWER Outcome of 2 or more
individuals interacting such that they receive a net
benefit from their interaction even though there are
costs; behaving in a way that makes the expected benefits
possible
Know the case study of cooperation in elephants. What
were the 3 tasks and what did each of them show regarding
an elephant's ability to work alone and to work with others?
- ANSWER task 1-
Elephants trained to pull a rope attached to get a bowl of
food. This is a solo task.
task 2- Elephants needed to work together to pull
2 ropes to get a food reward
1) Elephants released at the same time
(working together could be coincidental)
2) Elephant release staggered (working
together requires waiting, supports
cooperation)
task 3- Elephants released at the same time but
one rope is made inaccessible (working together
not possible, no cooperation)
Know the case study of cooperation in Rodrigues fruit
bats. What type of behaviors did the helper engage in
and what is a possible explanation for why? - ANSWER
Rodrigues Fruit Bat: Birthing
,Unrelated female 'helper' assisted female with difficult birth
,Demonstrated birth posture (feet down); groomed the
mother during birth; lick the newborn; and assisted with
position the pup for nursing
Assistance may be related to bonds built through roosting
proximity
Know the case study of cooperation in primates. What are
the health and social benefits of social grooming? -
ANSWER Common
cooperative behavior observed in primates (also called
allogrooming)
Health benefit of the removal of parasites
Social benefits of tension reduction (hormone levels are
affected such that aggression is reduced).
Social benefits of resources being exchanged for food (this
means assistance with an aggressor/predator)
May represent an exchange based system of cooperation
What are the 4 paths (can also be thought of as 'behavioral
forms of cooperation') to cooperation? One was discussed
in Lecture 12 and one was not discussed in class
(considered controversial). - ANSWER Kin Selection-
favors behaviors that increase the reproductive success
of those individuals' close genetic kin
Reciprocity
Byproduct
Mutualism
Group selection (not discussed in class)
What is reciprocity or reciprocal altruism? - ANSWER
Reciprocal
altruism: exchanging acts of cooperative and
altruistic behavior
, Why would natural selection favor this type of behavior?
•The cost of one individual helping another is offset by the
recipient reciprocating by helping the helper in the future.
AND ANSWERS
In the context of animal behavior studies, what does
cooperation mean? -ANSWER Outcome of 2 or more
individuals interacting such that they receive a net
benefit from their interaction even though there are
costs; behaving in a way that makes the expected benefits
possible
Know the case study of cooperation in elephants. What
were the 3 tasks and what did each of them show regarding
an elephant's ability to work alone and to work with others?
- ANSWER task 1-
Elephants trained to pull a rope attached to get a bowl of
food. This is a solo task.
task 2- Elephants needed to work together to pull
2 ropes to get a food reward
1) Elephants released at the same time
(working together could be coincidental)
2) Elephant release staggered (working
together requires waiting, supports
cooperation)
task 3- Elephants released at the same time but
one rope is made inaccessible (working together
not possible, no cooperation)
Know the case study of cooperation in Rodrigues fruit
bats. What type of behaviors did the helper engage in
and what is a possible explanation for why? - ANSWER
Rodrigues Fruit Bat: Birthing
,Unrelated female 'helper' assisted female with difficult birth
,Demonstrated birth posture (feet down); groomed the
mother during birth; lick the newborn; and assisted with
position the pup for nursing
Assistance may be related to bonds built through roosting
proximity
Know the case study of cooperation in primates. What are
the health and social benefits of social grooming? -
ANSWER Common
cooperative behavior observed in primates (also called
allogrooming)
Health benefit of the removal of parasites
Social benefits of tension reduction (hormone levels are
affected such that aggression is reduced).
Social benefits of resources being exchanged for food (this
means assistance with an aggressor/predator)
May represent an exchange based system of cooperation
What are the 4 paths (can also be thought of as 'behavioral
forms of cooperation') to cooperation? One was discussed
in Lecture 12 and one was not discussed in class
(considered controversial). - ANSWER Kin Selection-
favors behaviors that increase the reproductive success
of those individuals' close genetic kin
Reciprocity
Byproduct
Mutualism
Group selection (not discussed in class)
What is reciprocity or reciprocal altruism? - ANSWER
Reciprocal
altruism: exchanging acts of cooperative and
altruistic behavior
, Why would natural selection favor this type of behavior?
•The cost of one individual helping another is offset by the
recipient reciprocating by helping the helper in the future.
