IB Questionbank

User interface language: English | Español

Syllabus

A.6 Ethology

Path:

Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour » Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour (Additional higher level topics) » A.6 Ethology

Description

Nature of science:

Testing a hypothesis—experiments to test hypotheses on the migratory behaviour of blackcaps have been carried out. (1.9)

Understandings:

Ethology is the study of animal behaviour in natural conditions.
Natural selection can change the frequency of observed animal behaviour.
Behaviour that increases the chances of survival and reproduction will become more prevalent in a population.
Learned behaviour can spread through a population or be lost from it more rapidly than innate behaviour.

Applications and skills:

Application: Migratory behaviour in blackcaps as an example of the genetic basis of behaviour and its change by natural selection.
Application: Blood sharing in vampire bats as an example of the development of altruistic behaviour by natural selection.
Application: Foraging behaviour in shore crabs as an example of increasing chances of survival by optimal prey choice.
Application: Breeding strategies in coho salmon populations as an example of behaviour affecting chances of survival and reproduction.
Application: Courtship in birds of paradise as an example of mate selection.
Application: Synchronized oestrus in female lions in a pride as an example of innate behaviour that increases the chances of survival and reproduction of offspring.
Application: Feeding on cream from milk bottles in blue tits as an example of the development and loss of learned behaviour.

Guidance:

The seven applications in this sub-topic are intended to reinforce understanding of the general principles. The applications include a range of types of behaviour and types of animal. Other examples, including local examples that can be observed, should also be studied if possible.

Theory of knowledge:

The “Just So” stories by Rudyard Kipling are literary explanations of animal behaviour. What are the features of a scientific explanation rather than a historical or literary explanation?

Utilizations:
Syllabus and cross-curricular links:
Biology
Topic 5.2 Natural selection

Directly related questions

17M.3.HL.TZ2.7b:
Suggest reasons for the length you stated in (a) being the most common length of M. edulis that C. maenas eat.
17M.3.HL.TZ2.7a: State the most common length of M. edulis eaten by the C. maenas population.
20N.3.HL.TZ0.8a:
Evaluate the hypothesis that females prefer to mate with males whose feathers are a brighter blue.
20N.3.HL.TZ0.8b:
Explain how natural selection can cause mate selection behaviour patterns to develop in a species such as eastern bluebirds.
20N.3.HL.TZ0.8c: Another type of behaviour is altruistic behaviour. Outline an example of altruistic behaviour.
17N.3.HL.TZ0.06a: State the effect of simulated ship noise on foraging behaviour.
17N.3.HL.TZ0.06b:
Predict the consequences on C. maenas of increasing noise related to human activity.
18N.3.HL.TZ0.7:
The drawing shows male and female Emperor birds of paradise (Paradisaea guilielmi ) found in Papua New Guinea.

Suggest how the external features and courtship behaviour of these birds of paradise affect reproductive success.
18M.3.HL.TZ1.7d:
Outline an example of a change in animal behaviour as a result of natural selection.
18M.3.HL.TZ1.7c:
Distinguish between innate behaviour and learned behaviour in the development of birdsong.
18M.3.HL.TZ2.8:
Compare and contrast innate behaviour and learned behaviour.
19M.3.HL.TZ2.6a.i:
Suggest a reason for the plateau in the graph when only one crab is present in the cage.
19M.3.HL.TZ2.6b: Outline the role of natural selection in animal behaviour.
19M.3.HL.TZ2.6a.ii:
Determine whether foraging by crabs is dependent on number of prey (mussels) or number of predators (crabs).
19N.3.HL.TZ0.7a: Courtship behaviour leads to mate selection. Describe innate behaviour.
19N.3.HL.TZ0.7b: Explain the implications of courtship behaviour in natural selection.

Sub sections and their related questions

None

DP Biology Questionbank

A.6 Ethology

Description

Directly related questions

Sub sections and their related questions