Question

Answer the following questions regarding ultimate and proximate reasons for animal behavior.

1. In a social hierarchy of animals, individuals that are ‘low’ in the hierarchy do NOT appear to realize many of the benefits accorded the dominant individuals. Why? In other words, what ultimate reasons explain why submissive individuals ‘tolerate’ this situation? What proximate reasons explain why submissive individuals tend to remain submissive?
2. In an agonistic encounter between two individuals of the same species, one of the individuals may find it 'fit to quit'. Why? In other words, what is the ultimate reason that explains this behavior? When may it be 'fit to quit'? In other words, what is (are) the proximate reason(s) which allow an individual to determine if would be 'fit to quit’?
3. It is not uncommon to see “baby” birds (e.g., American Robins or European Starlings) as large as their parents (and capable of flight and feeding themselves) begging to be fed by their parents. The parents often respond aggressively towards their offspring. Why? In other words, what is (are) the ultimate reason(s) that explains the parents behavior?

Answer 1

* In a social hierarchy of animals ,the recessive{inactive ones} ones always have a recessive allele and that's why they always stays recessive while compared to the dominant ones{active ones}.And this prominent reason explains why submissive individuals always tends. to remain submissive.

* The theory of charles darwin details this condition where only the survival of the fittest is possible.The individual with the dominant or more capable tries to win over the recessive and here the other one thinks it is fit to quit.And, thus survival of the fittest happens here.

* This baby birds starts their behavioural association during the age of four to seven and this adaptation happens for their future time by learning how to escape their predators and how to prey on their food and this is done by the process called imprinting and its the main reason for which the parenjal behavior towards the baby birds by their parents.