Which of the following is an example of an ultimate cause of animal behavior?
A) Variation in hormone receptors governing promiscuity in rodents
B) Competition for food resulting in the larval foraging behaviors of fruit flies
C) Social environment determining the dominant role in male cichlids
D) Phenotypic variation in response to water depth in fish
E) Conditioned response in animals

Question

Which of the following is an example of an ultimate cause of animal behavior?  
A) Variation in hormone receptors governing promiscuity in rodents
B) Competition for food resulting in the larval foraging behaviors of fruit flies
C) Social environment determining the dominant role in male cichlids
D) Phenotypic variation in response to water depth in fish
E) Conditioned response in animals

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Competition for food is an ultimate cause of animal behavior as it explains why the behavior (larval foraging behaviors of fruit flies) has evolved. Ultimate causes focus on evolutionary reasons for behaviors. The other choices are either proximate causes (A, C, D) or examples of learned behavior (E).

Which of the Following Is an Example of an Ultimate