[Campbell Biology P.1205] According to the text, which of the following is the best definitio... | Practice Question
According to the text, which of the following is the best definition of altruism, and which behavior exemplifies it?
A: Behavior that increases individual fitness, exemplified by a squirrel's alarm call.
B: Behavior that reduces individual fitness but increases the fitness of others, exemplified by a honeybee worker stinging an intruder.
C: Behavior that benefits all individuals equally, exemplified by a blackcap changing migration patterns.
D: Behavior that allows an individual to forage more efficiently, exemplified by coastal garter snakes eating banana slugs.
Explanation
The text defines altruism as a behavior that "reduces an animal's individual fitness but increases the fitness of other individuals in the population." The example of honeybee workers stinging intruders, leading to their own death for the hive's defense, perfectly fits this definition.