[Campbell Biology P.1211] Acorn woodpeckers exhibit a "helper" system similar to scrub jays. ... | Practice Question

Acorn woodpeckers exhibit a "helper" system similar to scrub jays. A behavioral biologist investigating these helpers would ask questions about proximate and ultimate causation. Which of the following is an example of a question focused on the ultimate causation of their helping behavior?

  • A: How do hormonal changes influence the onset of helping behavior in young woodpeckers?
  • B: What specific neural pathways are activated when a helper bird feeds its younger siblings?
  • C: What evolutionary advantage does helping provide to the non-breeding woodpecker's inclusive fitness?
  • D: How do environmental cues, such as food availability, trigger helping behaviors?

Explanation

In behavioral biology, proximate causation addresses the 'how' questions about a behavior e.g., physiological mechanisms, environmental triggers , while ultimate causation addresses the 'why' questions, focusing on the evolutionary significance and adaptive value of the behavior. Question C asks about the 'evolutionary advantage' and 'inclusive fitness,' directly relating to the ultimate reasons for the behavior's existence and persistence over generations.