Honeyguides: Adaptive Value |
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What are the possible adaptive
benefits of the guiding behavior? There are many hives that are inaccessible to honeyguides - in one study, 96% of them - because of being located in large trees, crevices, or termite mounds. By leading humans (or possibly other animals) to these hives, the honeyguide can consume whatever is left beh ![]() However, honeyguides don't require the help of other animals to survive, as is proven by the other species of honeyguides that do not exhibit this guiding behavior. Similar amounts of wax were found in the stomachs of both the guiding honeyguides and those who don't guide, showing that it doesn't necessarily benefit them any more than the other birds as far as wax-gathering goes. (Image: Nashville Zoo) |
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