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Difficulty: MediumCommand of Evidence: Textual

Biologist Dr. Fiona Gallagher and colleagues investigated the flight initiation distance (FID)—the distance at which an animal begins to flee an approaching human—of eastern gray squirrels (*Sciurus carolinensis*) in urban parks and rural forests. The team hypothesized that while rural squirrels treat any approaching human as a generalized threat, urban squirrels have habituated to humans and distinguish between different levels of threat based on human behavior. Specifically, the researchers proposed that urban squirrels flee at greater distances only when an approaching human makes direct eye contact with them. Which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers' hypothesis?

  1. A
    Urban squirrels generally had a shorter average flight initiation distance than rural squirrels did, regardless of the human's gaze direction.
  2. B
    Rural squirrels fled at a significantly greater distance when approached by a human looking away than when approached by a human making direct eye contact, while urban squirrels showed no difference in flight initiation distance.
  3. In urban parks, squirrels initiated flight at a significantly greater distance when approached by a human making direct eye contact than when approached by a human looking away, whereas rural squirrels initiated flight at similar distances in both scenarios.Answer
  4. D
    Both urban and rural squirrels were more likely to flee from humans carrying food bags than from humans walking empty-handed, regardless of gaze direction.

Answer

In urban parks, squirrels initiated flight at a significantly greater distance when approached by a human making direct eye contact than when approached by a human looking away, whereas rural squirrels initiated flight at similar distances in both scenarios.
The correct answer directly supports the hypothesis by showing that urban squirrels adjust their flight initiation distance depending on human behavior (fleeing at greater distances when direct eye contact is made than when the human looks away), whereas rural squirrels treat any human approach as a uniform threat, fleeing at similar distances in both scenarios.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the researchers' hypothesis.
The hypothesis states that urban squirrels differentiate threat levels based on human behavior, specifically fleeing at greater distances only when direct eye contact is made, whereas rural squirrels treat all human approaches as a general threat.
Understanding the core claim is necessary to evaluate which finding supports it.
2
Determine the expected data that would support this hypothesis.
We need evidence showing that urban squirrels flee at greater distances under direct eye contact compared to looking away, while rural squirrels flee at similar distances regardless of eye contact.
This establishes the logical pattern required of the correct option.
3
Evaluate the choices to locate the matching pattern.
The correct option details the expected divergence in urban squirrel behavior under different gaze conditions and the lack of divergence in rural squirrel behavior.
This identifies the correct answer choice.

Key Concept

Command of Evidence: Textual
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Command of Evidence: Textual

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