Lepidopterans (moths and butterflies) sometimes have specialized flying behaviors. Some moths have the ability to do sudden vertical drops when they detect bat sonar, to avoid being eaten. Other species use special flying techniques to attract a mate.When biologists talk about the "cause" of a behavior, they may be referring to two different things. The proximate cause is the sequence of physiological events that lead to the behavior in an individual. The ultimate cause is the adaptive benefit to the animal that allowed natural selection to sculpt the behavior over evolutionary time. Understanding both the proximate and ultimate basis of behavior is important, and different types of biologists may focus on each.A moth species is known for its unusual flying behavior, which includes

Question

sudden vertical drops and horizontal zigzags. Not much is known about the cause of this behavior. What could you study to better understand the proximate basis of this behavior? (Check all that apply.)A) Brain structureB) Flying behavior in related speciesC) HormonesD) Mating behaviorE) PhysiologyF) PredationG) Sensory organsH) Wing muscle development

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A, C, E, G, H

Clarify Question
• What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question is asking about the proximate basis of an unusual behavior in a species of moth.
• What type of thinking is required?
        o This is an analyze question. You need to read the description of the moth behavior, break them down into their components, and figure out which of the choices would be involved in the proximate cause of behaviors. This is a check-all-that-apply question; there are multiple correct answers.

Gather Content
• What do you already know about proximate causes of a behavior? What other information is related to the question? 
        o Proximate causes are physiological series of events that produce the particular behavior in question. Which of the choices are involved in the physiological causes of the moth's diving behavior?

Choose Answer
• Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Brain structure, hormones, physiology, sensory organs, and wing muscles are involved in producing the behavior. The other choices are unrelated or are involved in the ultimate causes of the behavior.

Reflect on Process
• Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o Were you able to determine the correct answer? You needed to consider the how each of the choices influences the diving behavior and determine if it is part of the proximate cause or the ultimate cause of the behavior.