Group Territoriality

Abstract

The researchers in the article: Group territoriality and the benefits of sociality in the African Lion, analyzed an examination of the impact behavior of lion prides in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The study showed that larger prides were able to gain significant and preferred habitat over smaller prides. The larger prides were successfully able to take control of certain areas in order to maintain the quality of their territories. In most cases, territorial competition affected critical components of the lioness fitness and cub morality rates. The study also showed that aggression was only associated in prides that are not closely related. As well, research illustrates that a numerical advantage in territorial competition is

Territory occupiers evaluate intruding prides based on their relative group size. Mosser pointed out that previous studies had very small sample sizes and study periods, this has made it difficult to confirm if larger groups are more successful in territorial competition, and has led to inconclusive study results. Thus the authors aim to present a complete analysis of the role of group size in territorial competition amongst lion prides and also to demonstrate the long-term advantages of sociality in a territorial species by using tracking methods. Although the pride is a stable social unit, it is a fission-fusion social group, in which individuals are typically found in a range of subgroup sizes and compositions. The authors examined the dynamics of territorial competition, with the hypothesis that larger groups would be associated with improvements in territory

The effects of intergroup competition between females are direct and immediate, so much so that male coalitions attempt to modify the dynamics of territorial competition. In chart number three, it shows significate numbers of how female lions are often sited when depended with no cubs, then with cubs. Males will challenge one another for pride residency, and incoming males kill or evict dependent offspring which will accelerate the mothers return to sexual receptivity. The authors also discovered enhanced instances of group-territorial competition. This proves that strong selection for cooperative territorial defence is a clear benefit to large grouping in