Question

In testing the hypothesis that begging behavior in gull chicks is a fixed-action pattern that is released by the sight of a bill with a red dot, researchers found that gull chicks pecked at gull models containing bills with red dots. Which of the following experiments should be performed next to confirm that the color red initiated the response? Repeat the experiment by using a gull model with (1) a red dot that was four times the size of a normal red dot. Repeat the experiment by replacing the red dot with a blue dot. Repeat the experiment by removing the bill completely. Repeat the experiment by using a gull model whose entire bill was red.

Answer 1

Begging behavior is an interesting behavior we can observe in some animals, including birds and this behavior is firstly given by Tinbergen and got a Nobel prize (along with two other ethologist) for this study in the birds, In this situation, the correct option is "repeat the experiment by replacing the red dot with a blue dot (or grey dot)" as gull can uses the visual cues in this experiment and they behave in the presence of suitable stimulus and in this case red dot is the identifying approach for this behavior, whenever they see their mother or father on the nest they use their bill and touch the red dot present on the peck so that they can feed them and trigger them for FAP (fixed action pattern).

In case of second question, The most appropriate combination is given in option I, 30 percent water and 70% isopropanol and other options are not relevant here.