In Belding's Ground Squirrels, It Is Mostly the Females That

question 27

Multiple Choice

In Belding's ground squirrels, it is mostly the females that behave altruistically by sounding alarm calls. What is the likely reason for this distinction?

• A) Males have smaller vocal cords and are less likely to make sounds.
• B) Females invest more in foraging and food stores, so they are more defensive.
• C) Females settle in the area in which they were born, so the alarm is more likely to warn kin.
• D) The sex ratio is biased.
• E) Males forage in areas separate from females; therefore, alarm calls are useless.

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Definitions:

Cost Behavior

The way in which a cost reacts to changes in the level of activity.

Curvilinear

Describes a graph or relationship that displays a curve, illustrating that changes between two variables are not constant but vary at different rates.

Fixed Cost

A cost that does not change with the level of production or sales, remaining constant regardless of activity.

Fixed Production Costs

Expenses that do not fluctuate with the level of production output, such as depreciation on factory buildings and salaries of certain managers.