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Dominance hierarchies: Difference between revisions
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Social animals naturally compete for access to resources and mating opportunities because they are both limited in quantity and quality. | Social animals naturally compete for access to resources and mating opportunities because they are both limited in quantity and quality. | ||
Rather than fighting | Rather than fighting each time over resources, the animal of higher status gets to decide in a dominance hierarchy. This enables cooperation by reducing chances of aggression which may explain why such behaviors have evolved in many animals. | ||
The highest ranking animal is called ''alpha'', the next highest ''beta'' and so on. In many species, the alpha animals have frequently some interest in maintaining alliances with lower ranking ones to avoid a beta/omega uprising. | The highest ranking animal is called ''alpha'', the next highest ''beta'' and so on. In many species, the alpha animals have frequently some interest in maintaining alliances with lower ranking ones to avoid a beta/omega uprising. | ||