Social systems

Question 1

What are the four main mammalian social systems?

Answer 1

Asocial - solitary for the majority of life
Family groups - all individuals are related
Clans - groups that contain non-related individuals
Eusocial - extremely social and in constant contact with others e.g. ants

Question 2

What are the main benefits of group living?

Answer 2

Antipredation - ‘many eyes’ group vigilance, predator confusion and poorer targeting, the larger the group the less change an individual has of being predated, group defense against an attack

Foraging - group hunting, can take down larger prey

Reproductive - mate choice, cooperative rearing of young

Information - sharing of information, social learning and teaching

Thermoregulation - torpor aggregations

Question 3

What are the biggest costs of group living?

Answer 3

Predation - increased visibility, increased attack rate

Foraging - decreased availability of food as resources are shared, increased aggression, increased visibility to prey

Reproduction - increased competition and chance of cuckoldry, reproductive suppression of subordinate females by dominants