Question 1.
a.
Hierarchies in the Sty.
Define the term dominance hierarchy.
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Two researchers studied the effect of competition during feeding time amongst pigs living in a group in an
enclosed house.
Their experiment consisted of two treatments, one or two single-spaced feeders (only one pig can feed at a
time) per pen for a group of 16 pigs. All pigs were weighed at the start of the experiment. The five lightest
pigs formed the group of small pigs, the five heaviest formed the group of large pigs, and the six remaining
pigs formed the group of medium-sized pigs. The feeders were always kept full.
Study the results given in the tables below.
Table 1
Daily feed intake, kg
3
2,5
2
1 feeder
1,5
2 feeders
1
0,5
0
small
medium
large
Daily weight gain, g
Table 2
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1 feeder
2 feeders
small
medium
large
Nightly feed intake, %
Table 3
60
50
40
1 feeder
30
2 feeders
20
10
0
small
medium
large
b.
Does a hierarchy operate in this group of pigs? (Yes/No) ______________
Give TWO explanations (using evidence from the tables) to justify your answer.
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c.
Describe other behaviours that you would expect to observe among the pigs that would confirm the
presence (or absence) of a hierarchy.
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d.
Discuss the effects of having TWO feeders in the enclosed house.
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Another solution to the feeding competition often practised by pig farmers is to sort the pigs into
homogeneous groups (i.e. all the same starting weight) instead of adding an extra feeder.
e.
Explain why forming homogeneous groups in each house is likely to be more stressful to the pigs
than adding another feeder.
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Question 2
Starling Behaviour
Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were first liberated in New Zealand in
1862 and are now one of our most common birds. They are stocky
birds with short tails and a long pointed bill. On open farmland they
are insectivorous, feeding on any stages of an insect’s life cycle. In
urban areas they can also be opportunistic omnivores and
scavengers. Starlings are only slightly sexually dimorphic.
a.
Define the term ‘sexually dimorphic’.
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Compared to their European ancestors New Zealand starlings show behaviours that appear to be learnt.
These include
 vocal and behavioural mimicry of native birds (tui, bellbirds, fantails)
 the digging of nesting burrows in clay banks ( unseen in Europe).
b.
Discuss the possible advantages and origins of the behaviours unique to starlings in New
Zealand?
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Question 3.
Territories and Home Ranges
Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) are small birds found throughout New
Zealand. In spring, males establish territories that must provide suitable
nest sites, food and water. Females are attracted to the territory and the pair
will mate, build nests and rear their young. Nests are built in dense
vegetation and 4 to 6 eggs are laid. During this time adult birds seldom
venture outside the their territories.
Male Chaffinch
Gannets (Takapu or
Sula serrator) are
large marine birds.
They breed in colonies of many thousands, situated
on rocky headlands or islands. Each pair will
establish a small territory (approximately 1 m2) for
nesting only. Usually only one egg is laid. Birds take
turns to feed and incubate the egg. When the chick
has hatched parents feed it by regurgitation. As the
chick grows the parents must venture further out to
sea to satisfy its growing appetite for fish.
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a.
Gannet colony and birds in flight.
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Define the terms territory and home range.
territory: _________________________________________________________________________
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home range: ______________________________________________________________________
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b.
Describe the territories and home ranges of both chaffinches and gannets. Explain how these reflect
the different environments of the two species and the benefits each derives from its territory.
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Question 4.
Hunting Spider Biorhythms.
The following diagram records the activity of a single hunting spider kept in a cage where prey
were always available. All conditions were kept constant, except light. During the 30 days of this
experiment the spider was subjected to 3 different light regimes as shown.
24 hour Light Regimes.
days
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
12 hours darkness
12 hours light
Regime
A
24 hours darkness
period of inactivity
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Regime
B
12 hours darkness
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
a.
Key
period of activity
during which no
prey were caught
period of activity
during which prey
were caught and
consumed.
12 hours light
Regime
C
Describe what is meant by 'biological clock' and explain why it is advantageous for animals to have
such a timing mechanism.
Description: ___________________________________________________________________________
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Advantages explained: ___________________________________________________________________
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b.
Describe the normal activity pattern of this spider as seen in regime A.
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c.
During Regime B the spider is in total darkness:
i. Calculate the period of the spider's activity cycle during this period.
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ii.
Discuss the implications of Regime B with respect to the control of the spider's pattern of
activity.
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d.
Describe the spider's activity pattern during Regime C. Relate this to the mechanism of control of the
spider's activity pattern proposed in your previous answer.
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Question 5.
Mantis Sexual Behaviour
Praying mantids are well-adapted for capturing and devouring
their prey. They have grasping forelegs, powerful jaws and a
large triangular head and extremely good eyesight. Mantids
spend the summer preying upon insects and spiders.
Mating Mantids
www.
In autumn sexually mature males begin to seek out females for mating.
They follow the scent that mature females produce. Males generally
mate only once. Since the female is larger she can easily overpower the
male. He must therefore approach cautiously, preferably when she is
busy feeding on an insect victim. Often females will begin feeding on
the male while still mating, however the mating process can still be
completed.
After successful mating, few males escape. Those that have been unharmed during mating are seized by the
female and serve as a meal. This occurs at a time of the year when insect food resources are becoming
scarce.
After fertilization the female will produce several egg cases, each packed with dozens of eggs. The female
mantid then dies. Eggs survive in their cases over the winter and young mantids hatch in spring to continue
the life cycle.
a.
Define predation.
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b.
The relationship between the female and male mantids could justifiably be referred to as both
predatory and co-operative. Discuss this relationship and evaluate its benefit to the female, the male
and the species as a whole.
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Question 6.
Parental Care
The Common Smelt is a small fish that spends most of its life at sea
and returns as an adult (about 10 cm long) to spawn in freshwater
lowland rivers and streams. Females produce hundreds of eggs that
are fertilized by attendant males.
The return of adults to estuarine waters in large shoals provides a
bounty for fish and bird predators. Once mating has occurred adults
return to sea to feed.
Common Smelt
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The mohua (Mohoua ochrocephala) or Yellowhead is a small
insectivorous, forest dwelling bird. Numbers have declined due to
habitat destruction and introduced predators. The remaining
populations are limited to the South Island and Stewart Island. Both
parents are involved in nesting and rearing of their 3 to 5 chicks.
Yellowhead
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a.
Explain how the yellowhead species is able to survive considering each female only produces a few eggs.
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b.
c.
Using the axes below complete a curve that describes the likely survivorship of both species. Label your graph (including axes) thoroughly.
Discuss (advantages and disadvantages) and evaluate the Smelt’s reproductive strategy.
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Question 7.
Pecking Orders in Parakeets.
Parakeets are social birds that establish 'Pecking Orders' when confined in an aviary.
a.
Describe what is meant by the term 'Pecking Order'.
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b.
Describe some of the behaviours you would expect to see in parakeets, that would be interpreted as
'dominant'.
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c.
Describe some of the behaviours you would expect to see in parakeets, that would be interpreted as
'submissive'.
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Loser
The table below shows the result of 143 interactions between 5 individuals in an aviary. For each
interaction there was a winner and a loser.
d.
i.
lily
pansy
daisy
rose
iris
lily
18
0
8
0
Winner (name of Parakeet)
pansy
daisy
rose
7
18
0
6
0
0
0
21
2
0
22
0
iris
26
16
0
6
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Describe the Dominance Hierarchy of these 5 birds.
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most dominant
_____________
most submissive.
Working space if required:
ii.
Explain how you decided on this order.
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e.
i.
Name the bird that appears to be challenging for a position higher in the Pecking Order.
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ii.
Explain why you chose this bird.
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f.
Describe and explain 3 factors that could influence a bird's position in the pecking order.
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3. _____________________________________________________________________________
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g.
Many social animals have dominance hierarchies. Discuss the advantages and/or disadvantages of
this social organization to the individuals concerned and to the species as a whole.
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