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This bird is showing altruistic behavior by putting its wing around a mouse that may be hurt. This action does not benefit the bird, but it does this act regardless of this fact.

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Altruism is the act of one animal helping another with no benefit for the animal performing the deed. These acts could even put the individual displaying altruistic behavior in danger, decreasing its chance of survival.

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By: Isabella Delaney

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Altruism is a fairly simple behavior in terms of characteristics. It is simply when an animal risks its own life for another animal. However, altruism can also happen if an animal gives its own resources to another animal in its community. The basis of altruism is that the fitness of one animal is temporarily lowered for the benefit of others. Scientists are still working on discovering the reason behind altruism in animals, but for now it is simply described as an innate behavior.

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The elephant in this picture is trying to save a kitten, and this action does has no benefit for the elephant. Therefore, the elephant is displaying altruistic behavior.

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Meerkats are a common example of altruism. They stand on their hind legs, and if they see a predator, they alert the rest of the group. Standing up and "shouting" reduces their fitness, but the group of meerkats has a better chance of surviving.

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I believe that altruism is an extremely fascinating type of behavior. It is unknown why animals have the innate reaction to help others, and yet it still occurs. Altruism benefits members of populations and even communities rather than benefiting an individual's self. This is absolutely unbelievable, and I think that all living, moving things have this selfless quality at certain times, though it may be unsupported by logic or fact.

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While altruism may not benefit the individual at first, it can increase the survival of a group as a whole. If an animals displays altruistic behavior with another member in its own species, there is a better chance that the species as a whole will grow. For example: if a vampire bat gives some of its food to a starving bat in its community, the starving bat will then most likely reproduce, and the community will benefit.

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1. http://sfgirl-thealiennextdoor.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-altruism-in-animals-can-teach-us.html
2. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/27035
6783851371970/?lp=true
3. http://spotsinthesun.blogspot.com/20
12/03/whos-brains-in-this-outfit.html
4. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/altru
ism-biological/

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There is still much research to be done on why altruism is an adaptation of many species of organisms. Presently, scientists believe that it is an adaptation because it allows animals in a population to help the other animals in the population to survive. In other words, it is an adaptation for the other members of the population, not the individual itself. Natural selection is usually the "survival of the fittest," but with altruism, it is the survival of the benefitted.