Which behavior is an example of a fixed action pattern?
A) the imprinting of baby goslings on their mother
B) habituation in the cnidarian Hydra
C) the way female digger wasps find their nests
D) the way a greylag goose retrieves an egg that has rolled out of the nest

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fixed action patterns are innate, pre-programmed responses to specific stimuli. The behavior of a greylag goose retrieving an egg that has rolled out of the nest is a classic example of a fixed action pattern, as the goose will perform this behavior automatically in response to the visual cue of a displaced egg, without learning or practice.

Which Behavior Is an Example of a Fixed Action Pattern