AP Biology Study Guide
Chapter 35: Animal Behavior
Opening Essay
1. Describe the adaptations of prairie voles that lead to lifelong monogamy.
The Scientific Study of Behavior
2. Define and distinguish between the proximate and ultimate causes of behavior.
3. Describe the adaptive advantage of innate behaviors. Provide examples of fixed action patterns, noting the sign
stimulus and adaptive advantage of each.
4. Describe the respective roles of genetics and the environment in shaping behavior.
Learning
5. Define the seven types of learning and note the adaptive advantages and examples of each.
6. Explain how bird song development involves both innate behavior and experience.
7. Describe the problems that imprinting creates for captive breeding programs.Explain how these challenges were
addressed for whooping cranes.
8. Define and compare kinesis, taxis, and the use of landmarks in animal movements.
9. Explain how cognitive maps help direct animal migrations.
10. Explain why associative learning depends upon memory.
Survival and Reproductive Success
11. Define search images and optimal foraging, providing examples of each.
12. Compare the types of signals used by nocturnal mammals and diurnal birds.Describe the complex social signals
used in animal societies, including honeybees.
13. Explain how courtship rituals are adaptive.
14. Compare monogamous and polygamous relationships. Describe the circumstances that would favor each
system and provide examples of each.
15. Explain how endocrine disruptors may be introduced into the environment and describe the consequences of
this pollution.
Social Behavior and Sociobiology
16. Define social behavior and sociobiology, providing examples of each.
17. Define a territory and describe the ways in which territories are used, identified, and defended.
18. Define agonistic behavior and provide an example. Explain how agonistic behavior is adaptive.
19. Explain how dominance hierarchies are maintained, and what their adaptive value is.
20. Describe dominance hierarchies and reconciliation behavior in chimps.
21. Define and distinguish between altruism, kin selection, and reciprocal altruism.Provide examples of each.
22. Explain how both genes and culture contribute to human social behavior.
C. Gay 4/12/09
Steamboat Springs High School AP Biology
Key Terms
agonistic behavior
promiscuous
altruism
proximate cause
associative learning
reciprocal altruism
behavior
search image
behavioral ecology
sensitive period
cognition
signal
cognitive map
social behavior
communication
social learning
dominance hierarchy
sociobiology
fixed action pattern (FAP)
spatial learning
foraging
stimulus
habituation
taxis (plural, taxes)
imprinting
territory
inclusive fitness
trial-and-error learning
innate behavior
ultimate cause
kin selection
kinesis
learning
migration
monogamous
optimal foraging theory
polygamous
problem solving
C. Gay 4/12/09
Steamboat Springs High School AP Biology