Social and Group Behavior SI

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that traps insects in a plant structure. The plant structure closes when the small hairs on the inside of the structure are touched. The Venus flytrap can attract insects using a special type of plant communication.

How can plants, like the Venus flytrap, communicate with other organisms?

• Plants can gently vibrate to touch nearby organisms.

• Plants can quickly change the color of their stem to signal other organisms.

• Plants can release a chemical that other organisms sense.

• Plants can rapidly open and close their leaves to attract other organisms.

Male birds of paradise are known to sometimes dance and throw feathers over their body when females are present.

This behavior is the bird of paradise's method of _______.

• intimidation

• courtship

• speaking

• defense

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

Ants release chemical pheromones that are detected by other ants. Which of the following best describes the purpose of this?

• It is a method of excretion.

• It is a means of communication.

• It is toxic and kills predators.

• It is a way to influence genes.

Howler monkeys live in groups of about five to fifteen individuals. When a jaguar approaches the area of a howler monkey group, a howler monkey will make a loud barking call that can be heard up to three miles away. This call is intended to alert other howler monkeys in the group that danger is approaching.

What is a disadvantage of the howler monkey's call?

• The jaguar could hear the call and know where the howler monkeys are located.

• The call is not loud enough for the other howler monkeys in the group to hear.

• The call would let other animals in the area know that danger is approaching.

• The jaguar could be afraid of the call and run away from the howler monkeys.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Peacocks have colorful tail feathers with patterns and special spots called eyespots. During the spring and early summer, peacocks spread out their tails to show off all of their feathers to the females of their species.

What is the purpose of this behavior?

• to protect its young from predators

• to attract a mate to reproduce with

• to scare predators away for its own protection

• to show that it is happy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Many species of animals, such as wildebeests, travel in herds. What effect does traveling in a herd have on wildebeests?

• It helps protect their young from predators.

• It makes more grass available for each of them to eat.

• It helps them find places to rest.

• It increases the probability of being hunted by lions.

Animals can communicate using visual or auditory messages. What type of message would an elephant use to communicate with another elephant that is several miles away?

• a visual message by raising its trunk high into the air

• a visual message by quickly flapping its ears back and forth

• an auditory message by making a trumpeting sound

• an auditory message by blowing bubbles into water

Many species of fish swim in tight formations called schools. The fish in a school speed up, slow down, and turn nearly simultaneously. The photograph shows a school of sardines.

How does swimming in a school benefit the sardines?

• It reduces predation by making the group of sardines look like one large organism.

• It prevents the sardines from being caught in large fishing nets.

• It increases the amount of food available to each individual sardine.

• It allows the sardines to swim much faster than if they were swimming individually.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Gibbons are a type of ape. Gibbons communicate the same message using both auditory and visual methods. In the mornings, male and female gibbons make a loud, repetitive sound together that can be heard by other animals in the area. If another animal enters the gibbons' area, the gibbons will chase away or try to fight that animal.

What message do both of these methods communicate to other animals in the area?

• The area has a new predator and other animals should come fight.

• The area has food resources that can be shared with other animals.

• The area will experience extreme weather and other animals should find shelter.

• The area is the gibbons' territory and other animals should stay away.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A female firefly recognizes males of her own species because the males give off a specific flash pattern.

What type of behavior is a male exhibiting when he displays his flash pattern to a female?

• foraging behavior

• learned behavior

• social behavior

• defensive behavior

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4