Animal Behavioral Ecology MCQS

1. What is behavioral ecology? A) The study of animals’ physical characteristics B) The study of animals’ behavior in their natural environment C) The study of animals’ internal physiology D) The study of animals’ genetics Answer: B) The study of animals’ behavior in their natural environment 2. Which of the following is NOT a component of animal behavior? A) Foraging B) Reproduction C) Genetics D) Communication Answer: C) Genetics 3. What does the term “ethology” refer to? A) The study of animal behavior in controlled laboratory settings B) The study of animal behavior in natural environments C) The study of animals’ genetic makeup D) The study of animals’ physical adaptations Answer: B) The study of animal behavior in natural environments 4. What is the primary function of animal communication? A) To attract mates B) To defend territory C) To establish social hierarchies D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above 5. What is the term for a behavior that increases the fitness of both the individual performing it and the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Mutualism D) Aggression Answer: C) Mutualism 6. Which of the following is an example of innate behavior? A) Birdsong learning B) Human language development C) Migratory behavior in birds D) Tool use in primates Answer: C) Migratory behavior in birds 7. What is the primary purpose of territorial behavior in animals? A) To attract mates B) To defend resources C) To establish social bonds D) To avoid predation Answer: B) To defend resources 8. Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences animal mating systems? A) Resource availability B) Predation pressure C) Genetic diversity D) Habitat complexity Answer: D) Habitat complexity 9. What is the term for a behavior that decreases the fitness of the individual performing it but increases the fitness of the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Cooperation D) Aggression Answer: A) Altruism 10. What is the primary function of courtship behavior in animals? A) To establish dominance B) To mark territory C) To attract mates D) To defend against predators Answer: C) To attract mates 11. Which of the following is an example of a fixed action pattern? A) Birdsong learning B) Nest building in birds C) Migration in whales D) Tool use in primates Answer: B) Nest building in birds 12. What is the term for a behavior that is learned through observation and imitation of others? A) Innate behavior B) Instinctual behavior C) Imprinting D) Social learning Answer: D) Social learning 13. What is the primary purpose of dominance hierarchies in animal groups? A) To establish mating rights B) To allocate resources efficiently C) To avoid conflicts D) To increase predation success Answer: B) To allocate resources efficiently 14. Which of the following is NOT a type of animal communication? A) Chemical B) Auditory C) Visual D) Genetic Answer: D) Genetic 15. What is the term for the process by which animals become less responsive to a stimulus after repeated exposure? A) Habituation B) Conditioning C) Imprinting D) Social learning Answer: A) Habituation 16. Which of the following is an example of a circadian rhythm? A) Hibernation in bears B) Migratory behavior in birds C) Nocturnal activity in owls D) Social hierarchies in primates Answer: C) Nocturnal activity in owls 17. What is the primary function of agonistic behavior in animals? A) To attract mates B) To establish dominance C) To communicate danger D) To build nests Answer: B) To establish dominance 18. Which of the following is an example of a learned behavior? A) Courtship displays B) Nest building in birds C) Migration in salmon D) Migratory behavior in birds Answer: A) Courtship displays 19. What is the term for a behavior that benefits the individual performing it but decreases the fitness of the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Cooperation D) Aggression Answer: B) Selfish behavior 20. Which of the following is an example of animal aggression? A) Courtship displays B) Agonistic behavior C) Migratory behavior D) Tool use Answer: B) Agonistic behavior 21. What is the primary function of dominance hierarchies in animal groups? A) To establish mating rights B) To allocate resources efficiently C) To avoid conflicts D) To increase predation success Answer: B) To allocate resources efficiently 22. Which of the following is NOT a type of animal communication? A) Chemical B) Auditory C) Visual D) Genetic Answer: D) Genetic 23. What is the term for the process by which animals become less responsive to a stimulus after repeated exposure? A) Habituation B) Conditioning C) Imprinting D) Social learning Answer: A) Habituation 24. Which of the following is an example of a circadian rhythm? A) Hibernation in bears B) Migratory behavior in birds C) Nocturnal activity in owls D) Social hierarchies in primates Answer: C) Nocturnal activity in owls 25. What is the primary function of agonistic behavior in animals? A) To attract mates B) To establish dominance C) To communicate danger D) To build nests Answer: B) To establish dominance 26. Which of the following is an example of a learned behavior? A) Courtship displays B) Nest building in birds C) Migration in salmon D) Migratory behavior in birds Answer: A) Courtship displays 27. What is the term for a behavior that benefits the individual performing it but decreases the fitness of the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Cooperation D) Aggression Answer: B) Selfish behavior 28. Which of the following is an example of animal aggression? A) Courtship displays B) Agonistic behavior C) Migratory behavior D) Tool use Answer: B) Agonistic behavior 29. What is the primary function of animal communication? A) To attract mates B) To defend territory C) To establish social hierarchies D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above 30. What is the term for a behavior that increases the fitness of both the individual performing it and the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Mutualism D) Aggression Answer: C) Mutualism 31. What is the term for a behavior that decreases the fitness of the individual performing it but increases the fitness of the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Cooperation D) Aggression Answer: A) Altruism 32. What is the primary purpose of courtship behavior in animals? A) To establish dominance B) To mark territory C) To attract mates D) To defend against predators Answer: C) To attract mates 33. What is the term for a behavior that is learned through observation and imitation of others? A) Innate behavior B) Instinctual behavior C) Imprinting D) Social learning Answer: D) Social learning 34. What is the primary purpose of territorial behavior in animals? A) To attract mates B) To defend resources C) To establish social bonds D) To avoid predation Answer: B) To defend resources 35. Which of the following is an example of a fixed action pattern? A) Birdsong learning B) Nest building in birds C) Migration in whales D) Tool use in primates Answer: B) Nest building in birds 36. What is the term for a behavior that is genetically programmed and does not require learning? A) Innate behavior B) Learned behavior C) Social behavior D) Imprinted behavior Answer: A) Innate behavior 37. Which of the following is NOT a type of animal communication? A) Chemical B) Auditory C) Visual D) Genetic Answer: D) Genetic 38. What is the term for a behavior that benefits the individual performing it but decreases the fitness of the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Cooperation D) Aggression Answer: B) Selfish behavior 39. What is the term for the process by which animals become less responsive to a stimulus after repeated exposure? A) Habituation B) Conditioning C) Imprinting D) Social learning Answer: A) Habituation 40. What is the primary function of agonistic behavior in animals? A) To attract mates B) To establish dominance C) To communicate danger D) To build nests Answer: B) To establish dominance 41. Which of the following is an example of animal aggression? A) Courtship displays B) Agonistic behavior C) Migratory behavior D) Tool use Answer: B) Agonistic behavior 42. What is the primary purpose of dominance hierarchies in animal groups? A) To establish mating rights B) To allocate resources efficiently C) To avoid conflicts D) To increase predation success Answer: B) To allocate resources efficiently 43. Which of the following is NOT a type of animal communication? A) Chemical B) Auditory C) Visual D) Genetic Answer: D) Genetic 44. What is the term for the process by which animals become less responsive to a stimulus after repeated exposure? A) Habituation B) Conditioning C) Imprinting D) Social learning Answer: A) Habituation 45. Which of the following is an example of a circadian rhythm? A) Hibernation in bears B) Migratory behavior in birds C) Nocturnal activity in owls D) Social hierarchies in primates Answer: C) Nocturnal activity in owls 46. What is the primary function of agonistic behavior in animals? A) To attract mates B) To establish dominance C) To communicate danger D) To build nests Answer: B) To establish dominance 47. Which of the following is an example of a learned behavior? A) Courtship displays B) Nest building in birds C) Migration in salmon D) Migratory behavior in birds Answer: A) Courtship displays 48. What is the term for a behavior that benefits the individual performing it but decreases the fitness of the recipient? A) Altruism B) Selfish behavior C) Cooperation D) Aggression Answer: B) Selfish behavior 49. Which of the following is an example of animal aggression? A) Courtship displays B) Agonistic behavior C) Migratory behavior D) Tool use Answer: B) Agonistic behavior 50. What is the primary function of animal communication? A) To attract mates B) To defend territory C) To establish social hierarchies D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above