Anth 311 - Midterm 2 (U of C Dr Pavelka)
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 100% CORRECT; TO
SCORE A+!!
how do species change over time correct answers through natural selection
What is natural selection? correct answers the primary mechanism of biological change over
time (adaptation and evolution)
what are the 3 fundamental observable facts that natural selection is based on? correct
answers 1. variation
2. inheritance of that variation
3. overproduction
what is variation? correct answers Any difference between individuals of the same species
what is inheritance? correct answers variation passed from parent to offspring
What is overproduction? correct answers More offspring than environment can support
- Most successful will survive
what is biological fitness? correct answers a measure of the reproductive success of an
individual relative to others in the population
what would high biological fitness be? correct answers high reproductive success
what would low biological fitness be? correct answers low reproductive success
adaptation/evolution by natural selection correct answers the inevitable differential survival
and reproductive success in each generation leads to a change in the frequency of heritable
traits from one generation to the next and to animals being well suited to their environments
(natural selection leads to evolution)
what is an example of natural selection producing adaptation? correct answers peppered
moths going from mostly light winged to mostly dark winged after the industrial revolution
what are 4 points about natural selection and evolutionary change? correct answers 1.
evolution (change) operates on the population
- individuals do not "evolve"
2. natural selection operates on the individual
- individuals survive and reproduce or not
3. there is no such thing as an absolutely better variant - depends on the environment
4. variation had to be there in the first place
What is sociobiology? (3 points) correct answers 1. the application of evolutionary principles
(specifically natural selection) to behaviour
2. trying to understand how behaviour might be naturally selected/adapted/evolved
,3. asking how behavioural variations give individuals an advantage in survival and
reproduction
when did sociobiology develop? correct answers in the 1960's and 70's
what are the 3 main ideas of sociobiology? correct answers 1. kin selection
2. reciprocal altruism
3. parental investment
what question started sociobiology? correct answers how altruism might evolve
what is the popular definition of altruism? correct answers helping behaviour, selfless
behaviour, sharing behaviour. opposite of being selfish.
what is the biological definition of altruism? correct answers behaviour that potentially
improves the survival + reproductive success (fitness) of the recipient while potentially
endangering the survival + reproductive success (fitness) of the actor
what are 6 examples of altruism in primates? correct answers 1. predator alarm calls
2. helping others in a fight (coalition formation)
3. defending group members from predators
4. social grooming
5. feeding/caring for babies
6. food sharing (this is pretty rare for primates)
why was altruistic behaviour ORIGINALLY thought to evolve? correct answers because it
was "for the good of the group"
what were the problems with group selection? (2) correct answers 1. behaviour that increases
the survival and reproductive success of the actor will be passed on at a higher rate to the next
generation
2. behaviour that decreases the survival and reproductive success of the actor will not be
passed on to the next generation
what is kin selection? correct answers the idea that if your relatives are reproductively
successful, it is possible to have your genes represented even if you never reproduce because
individuals share genes
What is inclusive fitness? correct answers individual fitness + effect upon the fitness of
relatives = inclusive fitness
How could altruism evolve? correct answers if the benefits of the recipient outweigh the costs
to the actor, weighted by their degree of relatedness
c < b*r
among whom does most altruism occur? correct answers among relatives
Does altruism ever occur between non-relatives? correct answers yes
, how can altruism between non-relatives be explained? correct answers through reciprocal
altruism
what is reciprocal altruism? correct answers individuals help others so that they will get help
in the future when they need
what is the alternate mechanism for the evolution of altruism? correct answers reciprocal
altruism
where did the Braveheart video take place? correct answers in Ethiopia's Simian Mountains
how old is Braveheart? correct answers 10 years old
what is Braveheart's role amongst the geladas? correct answers harem leader
what is the crimson heart on geladas a sign of? correct answers a sign that the male is in his
prime
what does Braveheart's harem consist of? correct answers 6 females and their young
what does Braveheart do in return for sole mating rights? correct answers he protects his
family and pays special attention to the infants
what does a flip of the lip mean to geladas? correct answers it's a serious threat
what is Braveheart's tree display meant to do? correct answers it's meant to intimidate
who mostly benefits from male geladas fighting? why? correct answers the females
- regular showdowns allow them to gauge their current leader's strength and commitment
what is the bachelor pack in the Braveheart video? what is their goal? correct answers an
alliance of unrelated males
- goal is to overthrow harem males and seize their females
are there arctic conditions in tropical Africa? correct answers yes
what type of weather do geladas thrive in? correct answers extreme weather
are geladas baboons? correct answers no, they are the last of a once great dynasty that
stretched across Africa and included geladas as big as gorillas
geladas are the world's only __________ primate correct answers grazing
what is a gelada's diet? correct answers mostly grass and starchy roots
what is the gelada's way of gathering? correct answers they sit down as they pluck grass and
herbs with their hands
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 100% CORRECT; TO
SCORE A+!!
how do species change over time correct answers through natural selection
What is natural selection? correct answers the primary mechanism of biological change over
time (adaptation and evolution)
what are the 3 fundamental observable facts that natural selection is based on? correct
answers 1. variation
2. inheritance of that variation
3. overproduction
what is variation? correct answers Any difference between individuals of the same species
what is inheritance? correct answers variation passed from parent to offspring
What is overproduction? correct answers More offspring than environment can support
- Most successful will survive
what is biological fitness? correct answers a measure of the reproductive success of an
individual relative to others in the population
what would high biological fitness be? correct answers high reproductive success
what would low biological fitness be? correct answers low reproductive success
adaptation/evolution by natural selection correct answers the inevitable differential survival
and reproductive success in each generation leads to a change in the frequency of heritable
traits from one generation to the next and to animals being well suited to their environments
(natural selection leads to evolution)
what is an example of natural selection producing adaptation? correct answers peppered
moths going from mostly light winged to mostly dark winged after the industrial revolution
what are 4 points about natural selection and evolutionary change? correct answers 1.
evolution (change) operates on the population
- individuals do not "evolve"
2. natural selection operates on the individual
- individuals survive and reproduce or not
3. there is no such thing as an absolutely better variant - depends on the environment
4. variation had to be there in the first place
What is sociobiology? (3 points) correct answers 1. the application of evolutionary principles
(specifically natural selection) to behaviour
2. trying to understand how behaviour might be naturally selected/adapted/evolved
,3. asking how behavioural variations give individuals an advantage in survival and
reproduction
when did sociobiology develop? correct answers in the 1960's and 70's
what are the 3 main ideas of sociobiology? correct answers 1. kin selection
2. reciprocal altruism
3. parental investment
what question started sociobiology? correct answers how altruism might evolve
what is the popular definition of altruism? correct answers helping behaviour, selfless
behaviour, sharing behaviour. opposite of being selfish.
what is the biological definition of altruism? correct answers behaviour that potentially
improves the survival + reproductive success (fitness) of the recipient while potentially
endangering the survival + reproductive success (fitness) of the actor
what are 6 examples of altruism in primates? correct answers 1. predator alarm calls
2. helping others in a fight (coalition formation)
3. defending group members from predators
4. social grooming
5. feeding/caring for babies
6. food sharing (this is pretty rare for primates)
why was altruistic behaviour ORIGINALLY thought to evolve? correct answers because it
was "for the good of the group"
what were the problems with group selection? (2) correct answers 1. behaviour that increases
the survival and reproductive success of the actor will be passed on at a higher rate to the next
generation
2. behaviour that decreases the survival and reproductive success of the actor will not be
passed on to the next generation
what is kin selection? correct answers the idea that if your relatives are reproductively
successful, it is possible to have your genes represented even if you never reproduce because
individuals share genes
What is inclusive fitness? correct answers individual fitness + effect upon the fitness of
relatives = inclusive fitness
How could altruism evolve? correct answers if the benefits of the recipient outweigh the costs
to the actor, weighted by their degree of relatedness
c < b*r
among whom does most altruism occur? correct answers among relatives
Does altruism ever occur between non-relatives? correct answers yes
, how can altruism between non-relatives be explained? correct answers through reciprocal
altruism
what is reciprocal altruism? correct answers individuals help others so that they will get help
in the future when they need
what is the alternate mechanism for the evolution of altruism? correct answers reciprocal
altruism
where did the Braveheart video take place? correct answers in Ethiopia's Simian Mountains
how old is Braveheart? correct answers 10 years old
what is Braveheart's role amongst the geladas? correct answers harem leader
what is the crimson heart on geladas a sign of? correct answers a sign that the male is in his
prime
what does Braveheart's harem consist of? correct answers 6 females and their young
what does Braveheart do in return for sole mating rights? correct answers he protects his
family and pays special attention to the infants
what does a flip of the lip mean to geladas? correct answers it's a serious threat
what is Braveheart's tree display meant to do? correct answers it's meant to intimidate
who mostly benefits from male geladas fighting? why? correct answers the females
- regular showdowns allow them to gauge their current leader's strength and commitment
what is the bachelor pack in the Braveheart video? what is their goal? correct answers an
alliance of unrelated males
- goal is to overthrow harem males and seize their females
are there arctic conditions in tropical Africa? correct answers yes
what type of weather do geladas thrive in? correct answers extreme weather
are geladas baboons? correct answers no, they are the last of a once great dynasty that
stretched across Africa and included geladas as big as gorillas
geladas are the world's only __________ primate correct answers grazing
what is a gelada's diet? correct answers mostly grass and starchy roots
what is the gelada's way of gathering? correct answers they sit down as they pluck grass and
herbs with their hands
