Meerkats are small desert mammals that live in groups of 20-50 individuals. You observe one meerkat standing upright on a stump, looking around, while other meerkats forage for food. This places the "lookout" meerkat at increased danger of being caught by a predator. You hypothesize that this is an altruistic behavior. What additional data would support your hypothesis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The behavior is altruistic if it benefits others at a potential cost to the individual performing it. If the lookout meerkat forages for food after another takes over the lookout role (D), it supports the idea that the behavior is not for the individual's immediate benefit but for the group's safety, fitting the definition of altruism.

Meerkats Are Small Desert Mammals That Live in Groups of 20-50