Chapter 47: ActivitiesActivity 47.2 Homing Behavior in Digger Wasps |
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A behavior is any observable response to an external or internal stimulus. Biologists analyze the causes of behaviors at two levels, proximate and ultimate. A proximate cause describes how a behavior occurs, typically in terms of a mechanism; an ultimate cause describes why a behavior occurs, in terms of its effect on reproductive success. In this activity, you’ll explore these concepts with the homing behavior of the digger wasp, which was studied by Nobel laureate Niko Tinbergen. You will also perform your own experiments and draw conclusions based on the results.
Prequiz Chapter 47, Opening section |