Social behaviour - social groups Flashcards
3 behaviours animals have that are adapted to group living
Social hierarchy
Cooperative hunting
Social defense
Social hierarchy
A rank order within a group of animals consisting of dominant and subordinate members.
Each individual of a higher realms exerts control over those below
How is the dominant position in a group established
By ritualistic (threat) display behaviour whilst subordinate animals carry out appeasement behaviour to reduce conflict.
How can animals increase their social status
By forming alliances
Example of social hierarchy
Wolves - dominant animals will use threat gestures like baring teeth and raising ears,, in order to have privelages like first choice of food, sleeping locations and mates.
Lower ranking will show submissive behaviour by keeping all body parts loweredn and covering teeth
Advantages of social hierarchy
Increased chance of survival due to increased of favourable genes of dominant animals being passed on.
Reduced aggression between group members— so less chance of energy and energy is conserved
Guaranteed experienced leadership
Cooperative hunting
Group of animals working together to find and catch prey
Advantages of cooperative hunting
More chance of successfully catching prey and this prey could be larger.
The food from the prey will also be all shared so all members will gain energy
Also the energy used per individual is less
Examples of cooperative hunting
Dogs and wolves take it in turn running down prey until it is exhausted
Social defence
Involves a group of animals acting together as in order to protect them all from predators
Methods of social defence
Some individuals can watch for predators while others forage for food
Many individuals can better fend off predator attacks
Adopting of specialised formations when under attack to protect young.
All these will increase the chance of survival
Examples of dominant behaviour
Raising ears, growling, teeth bared and eyes widening
Examples of subordinate behaviour
Averting gaze, lower its ears and lower its back and cover its teeth
