Juvenile Free-Living Ground Squirrels Utilize Responses Known as "Alarm Calls;

question 21

Essay

Juvenile free-living ground squirrels utilize responses known as "alarm calls;" that is, vocalizations elicited by a predator. These calls can alert others to danger from a predator. Newly weaned squirrels emerge from the nest at about 25 days of age and enter a noisier world than they are used to. Do the squirrels emerge with automatic responses to alarm signals, or are the responses learned? To answer this question, a biologist played recordings of alarm calls for three populations (by age) of squirrels and observed the squirrels' responses. She reasoned that if the responses were not different for the different age groups, the squirrels must be responding by instinct. On the other hand, if the responses differ with the age of the squirrels the young squirrels must be learning to respond to the alarm calls. Her data for the responses to a whistle chorus, categorized by age, is presented below: Is there convincing evidence that the responses to a single whistle is different for the different age groups? Test the relevant hypothesis at the .05 level.

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Definitions:

Tachycardia

A condition characterized by an abnormally fast heart rate, often defined as a heart rate over 100 beats per minute in adults.

Athletic Adult

An individual who engages in regular physical activity that goes beyond general fitness, focusing on specific sports or intensive training regimens.

Peripheral Vascular Resistance

Refers to the resistance that blood vessels outside the heart offer against blood flow, affecting blood pressure.

Respiratory Cycle

The complete sequence of events in breathing which includes inhalation, exhalation, and the pause that occurs between breathing cycles.