[Campbell Biology P.1196] Based on the "VISUAL SKILLS" prompt and Figure 51.10, which experim... | Practice Question

Based on the "VISUAL SKILLS" prompt and Figure 51.10, which experimental design best controls for an inherent preference of honeybees for a particular orientation of black bars in the pattern maze?

  • A: Train all bees to associate a single orientation (e.g., vertical) with reward, then test their choices.
  • B: Observe a naive group of bees' choices in the pattern maze without any prior training or reward, to establish baseline preferences.
  • C: Vary the light intensity in the maze for different orientations to see if it affects choice.
  • D: Ensure all bees are trained with the same reward for the same pattern orientation before testing.

Explanation

To control for an inherent preference, one must establish a baseline behavior without any experimental manipulation or reward. By observing naive bees' choices in the pattern maze, researchers can determine if there's a natural tendency towards a specific orientation before training, which can then be accounted for in the main experiment.