In the study of animal behavior, which of the following approaches addresses mechanisms like physiology and neurobiology?

The correct approach that addresses mechanisms like physiology and neurobiology is the proximate explanation. This type of explanation focuses on the immediate causes of behavior, such as the environmental stimuli and the biological processes that drive that behavior. For example, when studying a bird's song, a proximate explanation would examine the neurological pathways and hormonal influences that enable the bird to produce sound. This exploration of biological mechanisms is essential for understanding how various factors at a physiological level contribute to behavior.

In contrast, other approaches like ultimate explanation deal with the evolutionary reasons why a behavior may have developed and is more concerned with the adaptive significance of traits rather than their immediate causes. Evolutionary ecology looks at the interactions between organisms and their environments over time, focusing on the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape behaviors. Behavioral genetics investigates how genetic factors influence behavior but does not primarily address the immediate biological processes that enable those behaviors.