Biology

Reece Nixon

20 February, 01:49

When an ant in a colony dies, the live ants will

throw the dead ant out of the anthill. If a live ant

from the colony, ant X, is sprayed with a chemical

characteristic of dead ants, the live ants will

repeatedly throw this ant out of the anthill until

they can no longer detect the chemical on ant X.

What is the best explanation for this behavior?

(1) The ants are responding to a chromosomal

mutation in ant X.

(2) The chemical is exhibiting a feedback mechanism.

(3) The live ants must continue this behavior

until they have eliminated ant X.

(4) The chemical acts as a stimulus for a particular

behavior.