In testing a hypothesis that "territorial defense in European robins is a fixed action pattern that is released by the sight of orange feathers," researchers found that robins defended their territory by attacking anything that was of similar size and had an orange patch.How would you show that it was indeed color that initiated the defense responses?
A)Repeat the experiment using live specimens.
B)Repeat the experiment using other shapes.
C)Repeat the experiment removing the orange patch.
D)Repeat the experiment with giant specimens.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To show that it was indeed color that initiated the defense responses, the experiment should be repeated with removal of the orange patch. This will help determine whether the orange color was the specific elicitor of the fixed action pattern or if it was just a coincidence that similar sized objects were attacked. Repeating the experiment with live specimens, other shapes, or giant specimens will not directly address the role of the orange color in initiating the defense response.

In Testing a Hypothesis That "Territorial Defense in European Robins