Give some possible adaptive hypotheses for this developmental plasticity. Three hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the adaptive value of learning in song development are given below. Consider these alternate hypotheses and think about how you might test them. Learning is a more effective way of transferring complex patterns of behavior from one generation to the next. Question 3 in textbook.
Some male birds are able to sing the species-specific song, even if they are reared in isolation.
Others must hear songs of conspecifics before they can learn to sing. Outline the cascading series of gene-environment interactions in zebra finches which result in male song production. Consider Alcock's description of Solowski's work on rover and sitter behavior in Drosophila larvae. Suggest at least two additional questions you could ask about the causation or reasons for the behavioral variation in the system. Question 2 from your textbook Question 3 from you textbook.