A biologist argues that the apparent altruism of vampire bats — sharing food with hungry roost mates — depends on a remembered history of reciprocal sharing rather than only on current proximity or kinship.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support the biologist's argument?
- A
Vampire bats roost in groups in caves.
- B
Some bats migrate seasonally.
- Ccheck_circle
Vampire bats were significantly more likely to share blood meals with roost mates that had previously shared with them, even when those roost mates were unrelated and many other unrelated bats were equally close by.
- D
Vampire bats feed on the blood of larger animals.
Explanation
A holds proximity and kinship constant and isolates remembered reciprocal history as the predictor of sharing, exactly as the biologist argues. B, C, and D are general background.