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.