Social Organization Flashcards
define solitary animals
individuals forage, rest, live alone except for mating, and usually rear offspring alone
examples of solitary animals
bears, hamsters, most large felines (except lions & cheetahs)
define pair animals
male & female defend territory and rear offspring together
examples of pairs
birds, foxes, some wild carnivores
what are the differnt pair types?
-short term : transiet mating (meadow moles)
-long term : bonded for good portion of life cycle (penguins, cockatoos)
- lifelong : mate for life (snowy owls, praire voles)
- social : territorial or social pair (swan)
- clandestine : quick extra pair mating (chimp, human)
- dynamic : swinger mating (gibbons)
define matriachal groups
groups of females with offspring where males disperse (solitary or bachelor groups) and intermix in breeding season
examples of matriarchal groups
cattle, elephants, domestic cats, sheep, goats
define harem (natal bands)
single male lives with group of females (can have multiple harem in group), bachelor band is sanctuary for older males w/out natal band
examples of harem
horses, some primates
define packs
males & females live cooperatively in complex social group, communal rearing of young by pack with 1-2 breeding pairs, hunt together
examples of packs
wolves, african wild dogs
define resource holding potential
potential to win an all-out fight, how animals resolve disputes
define linear hierarchy (chickens)
pecking order or unidirectional, rank is based on ; rank of parents, age, size, sex
define triangular hierarchy (cows)
social hierarchy has a three-way order
define despotic
one animal assumes priority acess to all, minimal to no hierarchy for other indivudals (indoor cat household)
dominance must occur between animals of ___ species over a resource and takes ___ encounters to establish
same ; multiple (determined by repeated agonistic encounters between twon individuals)
define agnostic behaviors
activity of figthing ; aggression, submission, avoidance, retreat
define aggression
attack or threat by one individual to threaten to harm another
define offensive aggression
animal percives resource opportunity and threatens other animal if it does not leave it
define defensive aggression
animal perceives resource threat to safety or resources and becomes fearful eith defensive threats
causes of aggression
maternal, pain, fear, resource guarding
define avoidance
active : give way to approaching dominant animal
passive : freeze and avoid eye contact of dominant animal