Listed below are hypotheses for the evolution of monogamy. Which one of these is NOT based on the concept of individual selection?
Show Hint
- Food provisioning by both parents is crucial for offspring survival.
- Biparental protection from predators is essential for offspring survival.
- Females are solitary and dispersed, therefore, males cannot effectively mate-guard more than one female at a time.
- Forming monogamous pairs allows individuals to regulate their reproductive output and ensure the survival of the species.
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
In the context of the evolution of monogamy, many hypotheses have been proposed, and some are based on individual selection. For example, the idea that food provisioning by both parents (A) and biparental protection from predators (B) helps to increase the survival chances of offspring fits the idea of individual selection because it directly benefits the reproductive success of the individuals involved.
Females being solitary and dispersed, and males being unable to mate-guard more than one female at a time (C) also relates to individual selection because it revolves around mating behaviors and individual reproductive success.
However, forming monogamous pairs to regulate reproductive output and ensure the survival of the species (D) focuses on species-level benefits, which is group selection, not individual selection. It suggests that monogamy ensures the survival of the species rather than optimizing the reproductive success of individual organisms.
Thus, the answer is (D).
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