BIOLOGY (CUSTOM)
BIOLOGY (CUSTOM)
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781266213144
Author: Mader
Publisher: MCG CUSTOM
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Chapter 43, Problem 1TC
Summary Introduction

To determine:

How a person hypothesize the altruistic behaviour of sentries.

Introduction:

Altruism is an animal behaviour that benefits other organism at its own cost. The altruism of an individual will be selected by nature as its sacrificing behaviour will lead to an increase in the propagation of its own alleles through kin selection. But altruism is favored only when the benefit gained from the altruistic behaviour is more than the fitness cost of the animal showing altruism.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Explanation of Solution

Meerkats are small carnivores animals which belong to mongoose family. These animals live in groups of around 30-40 members. Meerkats eat bird’s egg and small insects. These animals live and burrow under the ground.

Meerkats also show an altruistic behaviour. An animal uses altruistic behaviour, to protect the member of its own species. This type of behaviour also called as selfless behaviour because the some member of species produces an alarm to protect the other member of the same species. Some of the members of meerkats show this type of altruistic or selfless behaviour for the benefit or protection of another member from predators.

In the 30-40 groups of meerkats, some member behaves as sentries. Sentries are a type of guard which keep monitoring the area where other members of meerkats are searching for prey or food. If the sentries spot any predators, they produce an alarm by barking to alert their members.

These sentries are involved in altruistic behaviour. The sentries function as guard and keep monitoring the place while the other member of the species keeps on searching for the food. Also, these sentries are first to come out from the burrow and check the presence of predators. This function of sentries shows selfless behaviour for the well being of another member of the family.

Conclusion

Altruism is a sacrificing behaviour shown by an animal at own cost to provide benefits to its own kin to increase the reproductive success.

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