A scientist plans to study two different species of birds on the Galapagos Islands over a five-year period of time. Species A demonstrates flocking behavior while foraging. Species B does not. The scientist predicted that species B would be more successful. His primary evidence behind this prediction is the lack of competition between individuals for food.
- Identify the evidence the scientist used to support the prediction.

- Identify other evidence in the animal kingdom that may be relevant to this claim.

- Use the evidence to defend or refute the scientist's prediction.

- Explain the cause-and-effect relationship between group behaviors, an individual's survival, and the species' survival.

Respuesta :

Social species live in groups and their individuals depend on each other to survive and reproduce. Group behavior increases the individual's and species' survival.

What is competition?

Competition is an ecological and evolutive process very common in nature. It establishes between individuals that are disputing a resource (refuges, shelter, food, water) or the female access -reproductive competition-.

Competitive interaction might involve individuals from the same species or individuals from different species.

  • Intraspecific competition
  • Interspecific competition

In any case, during competition, individuals show their behavioral and genetic qualities as good competitors.

What are social species?

Social species are those that live in groups and their members depend on each other to feed, survive and reproduce.

  • Social species develop group foraging strategies that facilitate food detection and getting it. It involves surrounding and enclosing prey items and immobilizing them. Chasing and catching prey is easier in groups.

  • Moving in groups also decreases the chances of being individually targeted by a predator. In many cases, the structure and organization of the population are to place the most vulnerable individuals -the youngest and oldest ones- in the center of the group to protect them.

  • Finding a mate to reproduce is easier in social species.

Group behavior increases the species' and the individual's chances of survival.

1) The evidence that the scientist used to support the prediction is that there was no competition between individuals of species B for food.

Probably the researcher noticed that individuals from species A disputed the prey item while foraging together, while individuals from species B did not need to compete for the prey with any other individual.

2) Flocking behavior might lead individuals from species A to be detected by predators. Foraging in groups involves more noice and movement, spaning in a wider area, so these animals might become more easily noticed by predators. Species whose strategy is to feed alone, might camouflage more easily or be unnoticed by predators.

If individuals from species B do not demonstrate flocking behavior while foraging, they might be unnoticed by predators. This fact would lead species B to be more successful.

3) Evidence suggests that group behavior increases the species' and the individual's chances of survival.

Several species have been studied expressing this behavior (Dolphin, pengüins, zebras, monkeys, elephants, birds). All of them have shown a wide variety of strategies that lead them to increase the survival and reproductive rate, increasing population size.

According to the evidence, flocking behavior would be better for the species to increase its fitness. In this case, species A would be more successful, which leads to refute the scientist's prediction.

4) Species develop different strategies to be more successful and increase their fitness. These strategies depend on environmental pressures.

Species fitness includes survival and reproductive rates.

For individuals to survive, they need to feed, mate, and avoid predation. And depending on the species, individuals can show collective or solitary behavior.

Species that show group behavior are social, and individuals composing them depend on each other. Group behavior increases the species' and the individual's chances of survival.

Even though moving in groups might increase intraspecific competition and enhance hierarchic structures, it seems to be beneficial for individuals and species concerning finding food, avoiding predators, and getting to mate and reproduce.

  • Cause ⇒ Need to survive and reproduce
  • Consequence ⇒ Increase fitness

You will learn more about group behavior at

https://brainly.com/question/1030682