A zoo is hand-rearing an endangered species of songbird. What is the best approach to help prepare the males to attract mates?

Question

A.  Expose the males to a mentor male bird singing their species' song during the critical period.
B.  Expose the males to female pheromones from their species, to initiate development of song circuits during the critical period.
C.  Expose the males to each other during the critical period, to initiate development of song circuits during the critical period.
D.  Expose the males to a variety of birdsongs during the critical period.


Clarify question:
What is the key concept addressed by the question?

What type of thinking is required?

Gather Content:
What do you already know about mating behaviors in male birds? What other information is related to the question? 

Choose Answer:
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflection 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?
 

Answer 1

A.  Expose the males to a mentor male bird singing their species' song during the critical period.


Clarify question:
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
Knowing what environment will be important for the males to learn mating behaviors.

What type of thinking is required?
This is an evaluate question. You will need to make a judgement as to which of the choices is the best possible answer. You are being presented with 4 experimental designs. You need to examine all 4 choices and pick the best experimental design.

Gather Content:
What do you already know about mating behaviors in male birds? What other information is related to the question? 
You need to use what you know about the interaction of instinct and learning in songbirds to help you pick the correct experimental design. Male songbirds have an innate ability to produce songs but they cannot sing their mating song well without listening to the correct song. All of the approaches are valid but only one of them is going to be helpful in making the young males perfect their mating songs.

Choose Answer:
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
Male birds usually need to hear their songs during development and so it will be important to expose the males to a mentor male bird singing their species' song during the critical period..

Reflection 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?
Were you able to select the correct answer? The key is to understand that that although male song birds have some innate ability to perform the mating song, they need to be exposed to the song during the critical period in order for them to perfect it.