In Order to Test the Selfish Herd Hypothesis, This Researcher

Question

In order to test the selfish herd hypothesis, this researcher should determine if
A) the assassin bug's efficiency decreases as the bee group size increases.
B) bees that are painted to cover their stripes are more likely to be attacked by the assassin bug.
C) bees near the periphery of the sleeping cluster are more likely to be targeted by the assassin bug than those near the center.
D) bees that are not attacked are more closely related to one another than those that are targeted.

Accepted Answer

The selfish herd hypothesis suggests that individuals in a group can reduce their predation risk by moving towards the center of the group, making those on the periphery more vulnerable to predators. Therefore, determining if bees near the periphery of the sleeping cluster are more likely to be targeted by the assassin bug than those near the center directly tests this hypothesis.