Social Behaviors

Rucete ✏ Biology In a Nutshell

1. Agonistic Behavior

• Includes aggression and submission
• Arises from competition over food, mates, or territory

2. Dominance Hierarchies

• A ranking system within a group
• Example: pecking order
• Reduces conflict by establishing clear roles, conserving energy and resources

3. Territoriality

• Behavior used to defend a specific area
• Ensures access to resources by keeping others out

4. Altruistic Behavior

• When an organism helps another at its own cost
• Explained by kin selection: an evolutionary strategy that favors the reproductive success of relatives, even at a personal cost