Zoology 304
5 September 2001
Dr. Bowen
ESSAY ASSIGNMENT #1
DUE WEDNESDAY, 12 SEPT 2001
TOPIC: Evolutionary Principles and Proximate Mechanisms of Behavior
In preparation for writing this essay, read Ch 18 (Masters of the Tongue Flick)
and Ch 8 (Evolution of Nest Building) in Topoff’s book. Your assignment is to
write an essay discussing the issues raised below. I expect clearly written
sentences and paragraph structure that organizes material you have learned in
relation to the topic of the reading. Please address the questions listed below,
but write AN ESSAY—don't just answer the questions. Both readings should
be integrated into one essay that begins with a short introductory
paragraph that draws a connection between the two readings.
This essay is worth 30 points. Each issue listed below should be discussed in
the essay. Full credit will be given if each issue is discussed and integrated into
the essay. 4 points will be given for organization and clarity of writing. For the
remaining 26 points, I will assign grades of 26 (100%), 23 (90%), 21 (80%), or 18
(70%). I assume that if you take the time to read the book and write the essay,
your work is worth 70%. Please don't disappoint me.
Reading #1. Masters of the Tongue Flick, by Carol A. Simon.
Carol Simon studied tongue-flicking in lizards, especially the Yarrow's Spiny
Lizard. What observations and experiments did she conduct to help determine
the proximate cause of tongue-flicking in this species? What did she conclude
was the primary reason for tongue-flicking in Yarrow's Spiny Lizard?
Bissinger and Simon used the comparative method to learn more about the
adaptive significance of tongue-flicking in lizards. Explain how they use the
comparative method and what they learned.
Reading #2. Evolution of Nest Building, by Nicholas E. Collias.
Nicholas Collias reviews the evolution of nest building in birds using a
comparative approach—he gives examples of convergent evolution and
divergent evolution in nest building behavior. Based on the examples in his
essay, describe a case of convergent evolution (unrelated species that share
similar environments and similar behaviors) and a case of divergent evolution
(related species that experience different environments and show different
behaviors). Describe the evidence, even if it is indirect evidence, that natural
selection has resulted in the behaviors—or types of nests—you describe.