Q45 - Risk-Taking and Social Dynamics in Adelie Penguins

Theoretical 1 Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

In Adelie penguins when both parent leave the nest to find food, three-weeks-old chicks group together for protection. In this species, social defence behaviour can occur in unusual ways. When adult Adelie penguins reach the coast, they gather in groups before diving into the ocean, where usually their predator (leopard seal) could be lurking. The penguins have two choices, first to dive together, or wait until one of penguins dives so they could make sure if there is a predator or not.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

A. This is an example of altruism behaviour as the penguin that jump first could be hunted by possible predators while transferring its genes by helping its relatives.

B. According to above example we can say one individual have influence on what other penguins are doing.

C. If a new strategy arose which would make a penguin trip another one into the ocean without retaliation from others, everyone in the population would adopt this new strategy in the long run.

D. A mutation that results in postponing to jump as long as possible would eventually go to fixation.

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Question reproduced from IBO 2018, Theoretical Paper 1, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)