Discussion

Match the ecological concepts listed in Column I with their definitions listed in Column II.

Column I	Column II
P. Dominance hierarchies	(i) Giving up one's own reproductive potential to benefit another individual
Q. Territory	(ii) Selection acting on related animals which affects fitness of an individual
R. Altruism	(iii) Exclusion of competing individuals using agonistic behavior
S. Kin selection	(iv) Preferential access to the food and mates in a group

Answer: B

The correct match is P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(i), S-(ii).

In a dominance hierarchy, higher-ranking individuals get preferential access to food and mates within the group (iv).
A territory is an area defended by excluding competitors through agonistic behaviour such as threat displays and fighting (iii).
Altruism is behaviour that costs the actor its own reproductive potential while benefiting another individual (i).
Kin selection is selection acting through relatives, which share the actor's genes and so affect its inclusive fitness (ii).

Options A, C and D all give territory the definition of a dominance hierarchy (iv); D also gives altruism the definition of territory.

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