Question

In a group of meerkats, a male gives a number of alarm calls that in total save the lives of two sisters as well as three offspring of another sibling. But by giving these alarm calls, the male is exposed to risk of attack from predators and eventually is killed by a hawk. As a result of a shortened life, he does not produce three surviving offspring that he otherwise would have had. What was the cost to the male, in units of direct fitness, for his alarm-calling altruism?

a. 1 unit of direct fitness
b. 2 units of direct fitness
c. 3 units of direct fitness
d. 4 units of direct fitness

Answer 1

The cost to the male, in units of direct fitness, for his alarm-calling altruism is 4 units of direct fitness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cost to the male, in units of direct fitness, for his alarm-calling altruism is 4 units of direct fitness. By giving alarm calls, the male was able to save the lives of two sisters and three offspring, but he was eventually killed by a hawk and as a result, he was not able to produce three surviving offspring that he would have had otherwise. This reduction in his own reproductive success is the cost of his altruistic behavior.