Which of the following is a fixed action pattern?

• A. A hamster becomes active at the same time each evening.
• B. A wolf tracks its prey.
• C. A robin eats a distasteful bug, spits it out, and never eats a bug that looks like that again.
• D. A blackback gull returns to the same island breeding grounds each year.
• E. A stickleback fish attacks a wood block with a red bottom.

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of a fixed action pattern (FAP). A fixed action pattern is a sequence of unlearned, innate behaviors that is triggered by a specific stimulus. Once initiated, the sequence is carried out to completion, regardless of changes in the environment.
2. Identify the key characteristics of a fixed action pattern: it is innate, not learned; it is triggered by a specific stimulus; and it is performed in a stereotyped manner.
3. Examine each option to determine if it fits the criteria for a fixed action pattern. Consider whether the behavior is innate and triggered by a specific stimulus.
4. Analyze the behavior of the stickleback fish attacking a wood block with a red bottom. This behavior is innate and triggered by the presence of the red color, which is a specific stimulus. The fish will attack regardless of the actual nature of the object, demonstrating a stereotyped response.
5. Conclude that the stickleback fish's behavior fits the definition of a fixed action pattern because it is an innate response triggered by a specific stimulus (the red color), and it is performed in a stereotyped manner.