Asked by Shanice Brown on May 30, 2024

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Tinbergen found that when young herring gull chicks are exposed to a painted stick with a red dot on the end, they give a pecking response. The chick's pecking response is an example of

A) code breaking, where a fixed action pattern is exploited by another species.
B) an instinctual response that is learned by watching other gulls get food from their parents.
C) an adaptation that has likely evolved in response to low food availability in the environment.
D) an innate behavior, which does not require previous experience with the cue to elicit the behavioral response.

Tinbergen

Refers to Nikolaas Tinbergen, a pioneering ethologist known for his contributions to the study of animal behavior, including the concept of the four levels of analysis.

Herring Gull Chicks

Young offspring of the herring gull, a large species of seagull that is often found in the northern hemisphere near coastal areas.

Pecking Response

Innate behavior observed in birds where they peck at objects, often triggered by specific stimuli and linked to feeding or investigative actions.

  • Grasp innate behavior patterns and their evolutionary significance.
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CL
Chandra LekhaJun 03, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Tinbergen's experiment with herring gull chicks demonstrates an innate behavior, as the chicks respond to the stimulus (a painted stick with a red dot) without prior experience, indicating that the behavior is instinctual and not learned.