Darwin argued that natural selection would never cause a trait to evolve in one

Question

Darwin argued that natural selection would never cause a trait to evolve in one species that benefitted another species at a fitness expense to the first species. A study of egrets in Florida found that parents eject some of their own chicks from the next. This behavior feeds alligators living in the swamps below the nests. The steady supply of food improves the health and condition of the alligators. In view of Darwin’s logic, what are two hypotheses that might explain why the egrets perform behaviors that benefit alligators?

Explanation / Answer

Here are the two hypothesis that I could think of -

1) It is possible that the parents selectively eject some of their weaker chicks out of their nest and the alligators take advantage of this behavior. This behavior might help the egret population by keeping only strong ones in the population and the weak ones are left to their fate.

2) Another hypothesis which is really interesting is that the egrets deliberately build their nest near alligator populations in such a way that alligators cannot actually reach inside the nests. Furthermore, Egrets deliberately feed some of their chicks to the alligators and in return get protection from the alligators. Alligators can eat opossum and raccoons (who are predators of egrets) hence these predators do not come near the nest and that way the egrets get protected.

In both of the hypotheses above we are arguing that the egrets are actually increasing their survival fitness by ejecting some of the chicks out of the nest. Hence we are consistent with the Darwin's idea.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse D
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.