1. Male dogs try to mate when they smell a female that is "in heat." What kind of stimulus are they responding to?
2. Many animals far from the equator enter a mating season as the days begin to lengthen, but this is not the case for animals near the equator. Why might these animals rely on different stimuli to begin mating?
3. The following list of steps is out of order. What is the correct order in which these steps occur?
4. A visual stimulus that leads to mating for peahens is the sight of a peacock's large, bright-colored tail. Why might natural selection have given rise to this stimulus that signals a good mate?
5. Blue whales migrate to warm, tropical waters in the winter. They return to cold, polar waters in the summer. Calves are only born in winter. Which of the following explains why?
6. You taste a new flavor ice cream. It is delicious! It becomes your new favorite flavor. You remember how good it tasted, and you eat it as often as you can. At your next birthday, you ask if you can have some of that ice cream. In this scenario, what has your brain done with the information?
1. The stimulus that males respond to when the female is "in heat" is a chemical stimulus (option c). In the case of mating, many animals receive a chemical signal - called a pheromone - which indicates the optimal time for reproduction.
2. The reason why animals depend on different stimuli to mate when they are far and near the equator is that the length of the day at the equator does not vary much (option c). In countries far from the equator, with a temperate climate, there are seasons, in which variations in lighting or day and night vary, which is not the case near the equator.
3. The correct order in which these steps occur is 3,2,4,1 (option b). The correct sequence, then, is: A loud noise moves the bones inside the ears, Your ears send a signal along the nerves to your brain, The brain sends a signal along the nerves to the muscles, You flinch.
4. In the case of the peacock, and according to natural selection, the visual stimulus that leads to the mating of the peahen is a sign of good mating because males with bright tails will draw predators away from the chicks (option a).
5. The reason that best explains why the calves of blue whales are born in winter is that calves would die of cold in the polar waters where the whales spend the summer (option c).
6. By relating the taste of ice cream to how nice it is to eat it, your brain stored the information that you liked the ice cream as a memory.
In the case of mating, many animals rely on specific stimuli to initiate the process. One common stimulus is a chemical signal known as a pheromone. This pheromone is produced by females "in heat" and is detected by males through their sense of smell. This chemical stimulus triggers the mating behavior in male dogs and other animals, guiding them to the optimal reproductive time.
Animals in different geographic locations may rely on varying stimuli to initiate their mating seasons. For instance, animals near the equator where daylight does not vary much throughout the year may depend on other factors to signal the beginning of mating. This differs from animals in regions with more distinct seasons, where changes in daylight play a significant role in triggering mating behavior.
When encountering a loud noise, such as the scenario presented, the sequence of events that occur is crucial for the body's response. The correct order of steps involves the sound moving the bones inside the ears, which then sends a signal to the brain through the nerves. The brain processes this signal and sends a response back through the nerves to trigger a physical reaction, such as flinching.
In the case of peacocks and peahens, the visual stimulus of a large, colorful tail plays a significant role in mating. This stimulus, which is a result of natural selection, signals a good mate as males with these features can draw predators away from chicks, ensuring their protection and survival.
Blue whales exhibit a specific birthing pattern where calves are born in winter in warmer waters. This is due to the fact that calves lack sufficient insulation and would not survive the cold temperatures of polar waters where the whales spend their summers. Therefore, the timing of birth in winter ensures the survival and well-being of the newborn calves.
The human brain plays a crucial role in processing and storing information related to pleasurable experiences, such as the taste of delicious ice cream. By creating a positive memory associated with a specific flavor, the brain retains this information and triggers a desire to revisit that experience. This highlights the brain's ability to form and store memories based on sensory inputs and emotions.