In a Group of Meerkats, a Male Gives a Number

question 4

Multiple Choice

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 direct fitness cost to the male for his alarm-calling altruism?

• A) 0
• B) 0.25
• C) 1.5
• D) 1.75

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