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.