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Understanding Animal Behavior and Territoriality

May 4, 2025

Animal Behavior and Territoriality Lecture Notes

Key Aspects of Animal Behavior

Survival/Maintenance

  • Hunting/Foraging: Essential for survival.
  • Rest: Necessary for recovery and energy conservation.
  • Feeding/Eating/Drinking: Vital for sustenance and health.

Antagonistic/Competition

  • Aggression: Acts of hostility or attack.
  • Territoriality: Defense of a space against others.
  • Defense: Protection of oneself or territory from threats.

Affiliative/Cooperative

  • Packs/Social Groups: Animals often live in groups for survival.
  • Grooming: Behavior that strengthens social bonds.
  • Communication: Essential for social interaction and coordination.
  • Group Defense: Working together to protect the group.
  • Maternal: Care and protection of offspring.

Development/Learning

  • Play: Important for learning and social development.

Conflict & Aggression

Reasons for Conflict

  • Defending:
    • Offspring (Parental Care)
    • Social Position in Hierarchy (Dominance)
    • Territory and Limited Resources
    • Mate
  • Competition:
    • Interspecific: Between different species.
    • Intraspecific: Within the same species.

Territorial Concepts

  • Home Range: Larger area surrounding a territory.
  • Territory: Valuable area with limited resources; benefit must outweigh the cost.
  • Antagonistic Behaviors: High energy consumption.

Example: Red Deer

  • Polygynous System: One male mates with many females.
  • Sexual Dimorphism: Males exhibit larger bodies and antlers.
  • Signals:
    • Visual: Large body size, antlers.
    • Auditory: Calling behavior.
    • Chemosensory: Urine bathing.
  • Testosterone: Linked to aggression and antler development.

Costs and Benefits of Conflict

  • Risks/Costs:
    • Injury, energy expenditure, predation risk, potential loss of territory.
  • Benefits:
    • Dominance, mate acquisition, resource protection.

Specific Cases

Red Deer Territorial Aggression

  • Mating System: Polygynous.
  • Dimorphism and Weapons: Sexual dimorphism with distinct male characteristics used in competition.

Sage Grouse Leks

  • Polygynous: Males compete for female attention.
  • Dimorphism: Distinct male and female roles in mating.
  • Signals: Females use sound, males compete.

Territory Dynamics

  • LEK: Area used for courtship and mating, asserting dominance.
  • RHP (Resource Holding Potential): Indicates an animal's power based on size and strength.

Convict Cichlids

  • Monogamous: Low sexual dimorphism.
  • Breeding (Spawning): Territory influences reproductive success.
  • RHP: Larger size often predicts winning in contests.

Low Risk Agonistic Behaviors

  • Marking: Territorial marking to prevent conflict.
  • Display Behaviors: Demonstrating strength or readiness.
  • Approach, Nips, Mouth Wrestling: Non-lethal conflict resolution.

Advanced Conflict Models

Agonistic Interactions

  • Fighting:
    • Competition can be intraspecific or intrasexual.

Sequential Assessment Model

  • Low Energy/Low Risk: Asymmetry in competitors.
  • High Energy/High Risk: Symmetrical competitors.

Influences on Conflict

  • Resource Change: Impacts RPV (Resource Payoff Value).
  • Motivation: Influenced by physiological states.
  • Territory Selection: Benefits of defending resources.
  • Dear Enemy Recognition: Shared defense and cooperation with neighbors.

Pupfish Example

  • Territorial Defense: Males defend territories for multiple purposes.