Wikipedia:United States Education Program/Courses/Behavioral Ecology (Joan Strassmann)/Dawkins sample test

Dawkins Sample Test

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Note: Answers should be concise. This is important in all scientific writing, and points will be lost for answers that are too wordy.

1. Outline the process of evolution using Dawkins’ terms.
   
   
2. Why are alarm calls altruistic?
   
   
3. How do honeybees vary in foulbrood susceptibility?
   
   
4. What do aphids do that armadillos don’t? Why?
   
   
5. Why don't birds fight territory holders to the death?
   
   
6. What is Fisher's argument for equal investment in the sexes?
   
   
7. If one parent deserts should the other stay and rear the babies? Why or why not? Explain.
   
   
8. What are the similarities and differences in genes for caddisfly houses, lobster shells and snail shells?
   
   
   
9. What does optimizing birth rates mean?

1. they attempt to bear as many offspring as possible.
2. they produce a number of offspring that will most benefit the population.
3. they reproduce in such a way as to maximize the number of independent offspring they produce.
4. they produce in such a way as to maximize the total number of independent offspring produced by the population.

12. As far as an allele at a particular locus is concerned:

1. alleles at other loci are its deadly rivals while other alleles at that same locus are just part of the environment.
2. alleles at the same locus are its deadly rivals while alleles at other loci are just part of the environment.
3. all alleles at all loci are its deadly rivals.
4. no alleles at any locus are its deadly rivals.

13. Individuals help unrelated breeders:

1. in the hope that they will take over the territory in the future.
2. because they were unable to identify kin
3. because they were manipulated into helping by the breeders
4. because they were no kin available to help, so they helped non-kin
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