85. The behavior of young ducks following their mother is known as
(A) Imprinting
(B) Innate behavior
(C) Habituation
(D) Mimicry
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Understanding Duckling Behavior: The Famous MCQ Answer
The sight of fluffy ducklings waddling behind their mother across a pond captures nature’s wonder. But what drives this precise “behavior of young ducks following their mother”? In biology and psychology multiple-choice questions (MCQs), this phenomenon tests knowledge of animal behavior. Consider this common exam question:
Correct Answer: (A) Imprinting
This instinctive attachment forms rapidly in newly hatched ducklings, pioneered by ethologist Konrad Lorenz in the 1930s. Ducklings imprint on the first moving object they see—typically the mother—within a critical 12-17 hour window after hatching. This creates a lifelong bond, guiding them to follow her for protection, food, and migration.
Imprinting isn’t just cute; it’s evolutionarily vital. It ensures survival in precocial species like ducks, where young are mobile at birth. Lorenz’s experiments showed ducklings imprinting on humans or even boots, highlighting its sensitivity to early stimuli.
Why Not the Other Options? Detailed Explanations
To ace MCQs like this, distinguish imprinting from similar concepts. Here’s a breakdown:
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(B) Innate behavior: These are hardwired, genetic actions like reflexes (e.g., a duckling’s automatic pecking). While imprinting has innate roots, it’s not purely innate—it’s a learned association triggered by specific early experiences. Innate behaviors don’t require environmental cues post-birth.
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(C) Habituation: This is learning to ignore repeated, harmless stimuli, like a duckling tuning out constant pond ripples. It’s adaptive desensitization, opposite to imprinting’s intense, selective bonding. Habituation reduces response; imprinting builds one.
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(D) Mimicry: A survival tactic where animals resemble others for protection (e.g., harmless snakes mimicking venomous ones). Ducklings don’t copy appearance—they follow a real mother. Mimicry is camouflage-based, not attachment-driven.
| Option | Definition | Why Not for Ducklings? | Example in Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imprinting | Rapid, irreversible learning to a stimulus early in life | Matches exactly: forms following bond | Ducklings trail mom post-hatch |
| Innate behavior | Genetic, unlearned reflexes | Too broad; ignores learning phase | Wing-flapping instinct |
| Habituation | Ignoring repeated stimuli | Reduces attention, not creates it | Ignoring waves |
| Mimicry | Resembling another for defense | About appearance, not following | None applicable |
Broader Insights: Imprinting in Ethology and Research
Imprinting extends beyond ducks to geese, chickens, and even mammals like sheep. In modern biology, it links to neuroscience—neural pathways in the brain’s imprinting center activate during the sensitive period. Disruptions (e.g., via lab isolation) can impair social development.
For students in animal behavior or psychology courses, this MCQ underscores Lorenz’s contributions, earning him a Nobel Prize in 1973. Researchers today explore genetic underpinnings using CRISPR in model organisms.
Key Phrase Tip: Searches for “behavior of young ducks following their mother” spike during exam seasons—understanding imprinting boosts your ethology knowledge.
