Question 1

(Essay)

Both male insects (such as fruit flies and crickets) and songbirds (such as canaries) produce species-specific songs in order to attract mates. What sorts of experiments could be used to determine whether these courtship behaviors are learned vs. innate?

Answer

Males could be isolated from birth and then presented to females as adults in order to see whether they sing and how closely their song matches that of a typical male. They could also be cross-fostered with (or exposed to the songs of) males of a different species to see whether that experience alters the song that they sing when presented to females as adults.