1. What are the five levels of selection and what is the continuum along which we rank the various levels of selection? Give an example of the action of each level.

Genic-Individual-Kin-Group-Species (3pts for the list and 2 pts for an explanation -> arranged along a listing of genetic relationships)

+ 3pts for explanation/example of each

2. Explain the basic premises of the ideal free distribution. Are there any animals that exhibit the ideal free distribution? Why or why not? Explain with an example of perception and social interactions.

5 pts Free to move from patch to distribute themselves in proportion to a resource

5pts Yes, sticklebacks ≠ explain the experiment in brief

Why, why not part:

1) 5pts perception -> absolute versus relative (absolute is closer to ideal free if absolute difference is large)

2) 5pts social interaction ≠ ideal despotic distribution (explain one: fish, dominance, or beavers, or oyster catchers)

3. What hormones are related to aggression? (Describe the action of a reproductive hormone and a neuropeptide). In what ways are these two sources modulated by other hormones (list a steroid and neurological route by which modulation occurs).

5 pts: T -> with a proximate explanation of the action (e.g., LH -> T to go up, etc.)

5 pts: Serotonin with a proximate explanation of MAOA defect (humans and mice)

5 pts: T goes up + chronic B goes up (B is a steroid) results in T going down

5 pts: Neurological route (MAOA as described above), OR serotonin receptors in crayfish (type 1 versus 2 serotonin receptors)

4. Why are animals gamblers? What is the adaptive benefit of this behavior? Give an example of an animal likely to be risk prone. Why would an animal be risk averse?

5pts: Risk averse -> resource limited -> more risk prone

5pts: If average reward is below Maintenance metabolism (BMR) then only a lucky one will survive

5 pts Shrew, or Bee or hummingbirds or juncos

5pts Cognitive Constraint!!!! Memory short term list length (but some credit given for other answers like food in abundance but a complete answer required the cognitive constraints)

5a) Why is a 50:50 primary sex ratio stable?

5pts: There is no rare sex advantage (it is the uninvadable ESS)

5b) What are the ecological factors that promote sexual selection for elaborate female traits (you must explain operational sex ratio in adults)? c) What are the ecological factors that promote sexual selection for elaborate male traits? d) What factors favor monogamy?

a) 5pts: males are limiting (e.g., male care)

b) 5pts: females are limiting (e.g., female care) (some points were given for choosiness etc, but that is a genetic factor, not the ecological factor of female limitation)

c) 5pts: 50:50 sex ratio, females dispersed, male+care are required! (a couple of those listed were required for full credit of 5pts).

6a. What are the two critical conditions for sympatric speciation (Hint the genetic or selective factors [briefly explain both] and the behavioral factor)? Explain why african seed cracking finches will not speciate.

5 pts for each:

1) assortative mating

2) hybrid unfitness

3) Seed crackers randomly mate (moreover, hybrids are not apparent as the alleles have a dominance recessive relationship!)

6b. Elaborate upon how one of the three ≥modes of selection≤ contributes to the speciation and the evolution of species recognition mechanisms.

5pts: Disruptive selection ≠ flesh it out