Crows will pick up a clam, fly up in the air with it, and then drop it on the rocks to open it. If one were to attempt to assess an ultimate cause for this, what data might one collect?
A) levels of activity in different regions of the brain
B) hormone levels in the brain of the crow
C) comparison of the success of crows that had normal sight and crows whose eyes were covered
D) seeing whether the crows that were most successful in breaking open the clams had more offspring

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ultimate causes in biology refer to the evolutionary reasons behind a behavior, such as how it affects an organism's fitness or reproductive success. Option D, which involves assessing whether the most successful crows at breaking open clams have more offspring, directly addresses the evolutionary advantage or reproductive success associated with this behavior, making it relevant to understanding the ultimate cause.

Crows Will Pick Up a Clam, Fly Up in the Air