Question

When scientists displace an adult female belding's ground squirrel to a new group for an experiment, she still risks her life by alarm-calling, although she is not saving any of her kin. why does this behavior still persist now that it is harmful to her fitness?

Answer 1

This behavior still persist now that it is harmful to her fitness because:

The ground squirrel is acting on instinct and still calls because she possesses no instincts suited to this evolutionary novel situation.

That is why when the scientists displaced the squirrel to a new group the squirrel still persists for it possesses no instincts suited to the evolutionary novel situation.