Pheasants do not feed their chicks. Immediately after hatching, a pheasant chick starts pecking at seeds and insects on the ground. How might a behavioral ecologist explain the ultimate cause of this behavior?
a. Pecking is an innate behavior
b. Pheasants learned to peck, and their offspring inherited this behavior
c. Pecking by newly hatched chicks is the result of trial-and-error learning
d. Pecking is a result of imprinting during a sensitive period.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the question. The problem is asking about the ultimate cause of a pheasant chick's pecking behavior immediately after hatching. In biology, the 'ultimate cause' refers to the evolutionary reason or adaptive significance of a behavior, rather than the immediate mechanism (proximate cause).
2. Step 2: Analyze the options provided. Option (a) suggests that pecking is an innate behavior, meaning it is genetically programmed and does not require learning. Option (b) implies that the behavior is learned and inherited, which is not consistent with how learned behaviors are passed on (they are not genetically inherited). Option (c) suggests trial-and-error learning, which would require time and experience, not immediate behavior after hatching. Option (d) refers to imprinting, which is a learning process occurring during a sensitive period, but this does not align with the immediate pecking behavior.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the most likely explanation. Since the chicks begin pecking immediately after hatching without prior experience or learning, this strongly suggests that the behavior is innate. Innate behaviors are hardwired and have evolved because they provide a survival advantage, such as the ability to feed independently.
4. Step 4: Eliminate incorrect options. Option (b) is incorrect because learned behaviors are not inherited genetically. Option (c) is incorrect because trial-and-error learning requires time and experience, which is not observed here. Option (d) is incorrect because imprinting involves learning during a sensitive period, not an immediate innate response.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct explanation is option (a), as pecking is an innate behavior that has evolved to ensure the survival of the chicks by enabling them to feed immediately after hatching.

Key Concepts

Innate Behavior

Innate behavior refers to actions that are genetically hardwired and do not require learning or experience to be performed. These behaviors are typically present at birth and are crucial for survival, such as a chick's instinct to peck for food. This concept is essential for understanding why pheasant chicks can immediately start foraging after hatching.

Learning and Inheritance

Learning and inheritance involve the transmission of behaviors from parents to offspring through experience and genetic factors. In the context of pheasants, this concept explores whether chicks learn to peck through observation or if they inherit the ability to perform this behavior from their parents. Understanding this distinction helps clarify the mechanisms behind the chicks' foraging behavior.

Imprinting

Imprinting is a form of rapid learning that occurs during a critical period shortly after birth, where young animals form attachments and learn specific behaviors from their environment or caregivers. In pheasants, imprinting could influence their foraging behavior if they learn to associate certain stimuli with food. This concept is vital for evaluating how early experiences shape the chicks' feeding habits.