Asked by Turki Alrashaid on Jun 14, 2024
Verified
A male moth detects a distant female and begins to fly towards her, but he hears the loud ultrasonic pulses of a hunting bat. The moth decides to employ evasive manoeuvres to avoid the bat, giving up his pursuit of the female moth. What is the ultimate-level explanation for this behavioral decision?
Ultrasonic Pulses
Sound waves with frequencies above the upper limit of human hearing, often used in medical imaging and animal navigation.
Evasive Manoeuvres
Actions taken by organisms, typically prey, to avoid or escape predators.
Ultimate-level Explanation
An analysis that addresses the evolutionary "why" behind behaviors or traits, focusing on their role in survival and reproduction.
- Elucidate on the primary and fundamental reasons behind behaviors in animals.
- Understand the significance of sensory sensitivity in survival and reproductive tactics.
Verified Answer
JL
Jacob LanzoneJun 18, 2024
Final Answer :
Natural selection favors moths whose nervous systems organize behaviors into an adaptive set of priorities based on stimuli, responding to the immediate threat of the bat before the possibility of mating with a female moth.
Learning Objectives
- Elucidate on the primary and fundamental reasons behind behaviors in animals.
- Understand the significance of sensory sensitivity in survival and reproductive tactics.