Question

In a group of meerkats, a male gives a number of alarm calls that in total save the lives of two sisters as well as three offspring of another sibling. But by giving these alarm calls, the male is exposed to risk of attack from predators and eventually is killed by a hawk. As a result of a shortened life, he does not produce three surviving offspring that he otherwise would have had. This meerkat's behavior was:

a. Selfish
b. Altruistic
c. Aggressive
d. Indifferent

Answer 1

The male meerkat's behavior of giving alarm calls to save the lives of other meerkats can be considered altruistic.

Step-by-step explanation:

An altruistic behavior is seen when a male meerkat gives alarm calls to save the lives of two sisters as well as three offspring of another sibling, despite being exposed to the risk of attack from predators. Altruistic behaviors decrease the fitness of the individual performing the behavior while increasing the fitness of another individual. In this case, the male meerkat's behavior can be considered altruistic as it sacrifices its own safety and potential future offspring for the benefit of others.