A Number of Butterfly Species Mate for Hours, and If

question 18

Essay

A number of butterfly species mate for hours, and if a mating couple is disturbed, oneof the butterflies is responsible for flying, carrying its partner with it. Not only aremating pairs more noticeable to predators, the added weight may hamper the flightduring escape. Random samples of Green-veined White (Pieris napi) butterflieswere the subjects of a Swedish study to investigate the escape flights of singlebutterflies and of mating pairs when exposed to a predator. Data on the initial takeoffangle of escape are presented below. The investigators considered performing ahypothesis test to determine if there was evidence that the mean take off angle wasdifferent for singles and pairs. Using a graphical procedure of your choice,determine if the t-test is appropriate.

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Definitions:

Negative Punishment

A behavior modification technique involving the removal of a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior's recurrence.

Positive Punishment

A decrease in behavior that results from an added consequence.

Negative Reinforcement

The strengthening of a behavior because a negative condition is removed or avoided.

Punishing Reinforcement

A term that amalgamates concepts incorrectly; in behaviorism, punishment is used to decrease a behavior's occurrence, whereas reinforcement is used to increase it.