Practice Questions

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 12349

Males in a population differ in the time they spend displaying to females. A researcher hypothesizes that predators are responsible for these differences. Males display for longer durations when there are no predators in the vicinity and for shorter durations when there is a predator nearby. Which of the following study designs is the most appropriate test of this hypothesis?

#Unit 10. Ecological Principles

Map predator distribution in the area; measure the abundance of females; quantify the natural variation in male display rates in areas without predators
Measure display rates of males at the beginning of the breeding season; remove all predators from the study site; then measure male display rates later in the breeding season; repeat for multiple populations
Measure display rates of males in areas with and without predators; randomly assign males to two treatments: (i) capture and release back in original area (ii) capture and switch between areas; measure display rates for all experimental males
Measure display rates of males in areas with and without predators; randomly assign males to two treatments: (i) addition of females to the area (ii) removal of females from the area; measure display rates for all experimental males