Question

Which of the following statements best describes the conclusions we drew in class from empirical studies of alarm calls in prairie dogs?

A) Individuals are more likely to give alarm calls when relatives of any degree are outside at risk of being preyed upon.
B) Individuals are more likely to give alarm calls when their offspring are at risk of predation and less likely to give them when their siblings are at risk.
C) Individuals are more likely to give alarm calls when close relatives are at risk of predation but do not distinguish between when offspring or siblings are at risk.
D) Individuals give alarm calls only when the individuals who are at risk of predation have given alarm calls that have alerted them in the past.

Answer 1

The correct conclusion is that prairie dogs give alarm calls when close relatives, either offspring or siblings, are at risk, showing no distinction between these kin. This reflects kin selection principles in biology.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement that best describes the conclusions drawn from empirical studies of alarm calls in prairie dogs is: Individuals are more likely to give alarm calls when close relatives are at risk of predation but do not distinguish between when offspring or siblings are at risk. This concept, derived from studies mentioned, aligns with the principles of kin selection and inclusive fitness that predict animals will behave in ways that favor the reproductive success of their relatives, not just their own offspring.

Prairie dogs, as noted in option b, live in underground burrows and use alarm calls to communicate the presence of predators to other individuals in their colony. The studies observed that these calls were given regardless of whether the relatives were offspring or siblings, showing no preferential distinction between these close kin categories.

The context of the question and other provided examples indicate that alarm calls can vary between species, can be innate or learned behaviors, and can even play a part in deceptive strategies for some birds as mentioned in the reference to Ethology. However, in the case of prairie dogs, the focus is on the role of these calls in social behavior and survival strategies.