1. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using optimality models to stud
ID: 57477 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using optimality models to study behavior?
A)The models make clear, testable predictions about how individuals should trade off the costs and benefits of a behavior.
B)The models always perfectly predict an individual's behavior.
C)The model's assumptions highlight the conditions under which the model's predictions are epxected to hold.
D)New avenues of study are suggested when model predictions and empirical observations diverge.
2.
House martins (depicted on the right) feeding their young in the nest are clear examples of central-place foragers. Imagine that a house martin travels to two different patches to collect meals for its chicks. The patches are identical except that one is farther from the nest. According to the marginal value theorem, which statement best describes how an optimally-foraging house martin should behave?
A)It should stay longer in, and collect a larger load from, the closer patch.
B)It should stay longer in, and collect a smaller load from, the closer patch.
C)It should stay longer in, and collect a larger load, from the more distant patch.
D)It should stay longer in, and collect a smaller load from, the more distant patch.
Explanation / Answer
1)
The models always perfectly predict an individual's behavior is not an advantage of using optimality models to study behavior. Thus, the correct option is (B).
2)
The statement best describes how an optimally-foraging house martin should behave is, it should stay longer in, and collect a larger load from, the closer patch. Thus, the correct option is (A).
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