Evolutionary approach

Question 1

Define a proximate hypothesis

Answer 1

= How they do it
- Causation (mechanism)
- Development (ontogeny)

Question 2

Define an ultimate hypothesis

Answer 2

= Why they do it
- Evolution (phylogeny)
- Function (selection)

Question 3

Describe Tinbergens famous study on Beewolf wasps

Answer 3

• Tinbergen wanted to know how the females always knew the way back to her nest after hunting trips
• Found that she circles the nest before leaving
• Tinbergen moved the surrounding landmarks near the nest entrance
  = showed that her proximate mechanism for finding the nest is to memorise surroundings

Question 4

What was the main finding of Vallin’s experiment regarding predation avoidance in peacock butterflies?

1. Both eyespots and hissing sounds contribute to predation avoidance.
2. Only eyespots contribute to predation avoidance.
3. Only hissing sounds contribute to predation avoidance.
4. Neither eyespots nor hissing sounds contribute to predation avoidance.
5. The size of the eyespots determines predation avoidance.

Answer 4

2

Question 5

Define parsiomony (as it relates to evolutionary explainations)

Answer 5

Parsimony suggests that the most likely explanation for a trait is the one requiring the fewest evolutionary changes.

Question 6

Describe the evo history of swarming behavior in bees

Answer 6

Single origin of swarming

Question 7

Regarding the evolutionary history of swarming behaviour in bees, what scenario would challenge the hypothesis of a single origin of swarming?

Answer 7

If swarming is observed in multiple bee subfamilies with distinct evolutionary lineages.
= A single origin of swarming requires a single common ancestor.