[Campbell Biology P.1198] In the context of the "Balancing Risk and Reward" section and the e... | Practice Question

In the context of the "Balancing Risk and Reward" section and the example of mule deer foraging, what is the primary factor influencing their foraging behavior?

  • A: The uniform availability of food across different foraging areas, which minimizes energy expenditure.
  • B: The significant variation in predation risk across different habitats, which leads to adaptive foraging strategies.
  • C: A genetic predisposition for short-distance foraging to avoid all forms of predation.
  • D: The need to avoid interspecies competition for resources, which is a greater threat than predation.

Explanation

The "Balancing Risk and Reward" section states that for mule deer, the 'risk of predation differed greatly' across areas, while 'food available for mule deer was fairly uniform.' It concludes that their foraging behavior reflects 'the large variation in predation risk and not the smaller variation in food availability.' This highlights that predation risk is the primary driver.