In some social insects, there are individuals that do not mate or may not be fertile but help look after other members of their group. Which statement regarding this situation is true?
A) Natural selection cannot act on the genes of nonreproducers since they do not leave offspring.
B) The ultimate cause of this behavior is the need to keep their group safe.
C) By protecting relatives, the nonreproducers increase the probability that their genes will be passed to the next generation.
D) Lack of mating is an agonistic behavior.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nonreproductive individuals in social insect groups are often closely related to their reproductive counterparts, so by protecting their relatives they are indirectly increasing the chances that their shared genes will be passed on to the next generation. This phenomenon is known as kin selection.

In Some Social Insects, There Are Individuals That Do Not