Question

Starlings sometimes assemble in large flocks that, in the evening, rise up in whirling flight together for 15 or 20 minutes in what looks like some kind of display. Professor Wynne-Edwards has suggested that this behavior is indeed a display that enables individual birds to assess just how many fellow starlings are living in the area so that they can adjust their breeding effort in the upcoming breeding season. In this way, they can avoid producing too many chicks and thereby avoid overpopulating their home range. This a group selectionist hypothesis because:

a. It benefits the individual starlings
b. It benefits the entire starling population
c. It benefits the next generation of starlings
d. It benefits the display behavior

Answer 1

Professor Wynne-Edwards suggested that the behavior of starlings assembling in large flocks and engaging in whirling flight displays is a display that helps individual birds assess the number of fellow starlings, allowing them to adjust their breeding effort to avoid overpopulation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The behavior of starlings assembling in large flocks and engaging in whirling flight displays in the evening has been suggested by Professor Wynne-Edwards to be a display that enables individual birds to assess the number of fellow starlings in the area, allowing them to adjust their breeding effort. This behavior benefits the entire starling population by helping to avoid overpopulating their home range. Therefore, the correct answer is option b - It benefits the entire starling population.