There are many animals that are territorial and they have certain advantages for doing so. In the article Group territoriality and the benefits of sociality in the African lion, Panthera leo by Anna Mosser the reason lions live in prides of various sizes and have territories of varying sizes were researched. The authors wanted to know what factors lead the African lions to living in prides and what benefits there are. Yet about one third of the females will disperse to start new prides. Also males live alone after four years or create groups of males that will challenge other pride residence for their territory. Territories are defended by its residence by scent, roaring, guarding and by aggression. There were five hypotheses that were being
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Another hypothesis was that larger prides would gain the land that overlaps two pride territories. The last hypothesis was that group size would be a factor in determining availability to resources. Each of the five hypotheses then went through testing to find if they are accepted. This study took place in the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania, on a 2700 km2 study area. Study populations ranged from 5-30 prides and 50-300 individuals. Observations from 1966-1983 were used and radio collared information starting in 1984. Study prides were then located about once every 2 weeks and lions were known by their natural markings. Neighboring prides were also defined as any two prides within 3 km of their main territory. Neighboring prides that split within 2 years were excluded due to relatedness. Total number of adult female and male lions was calculated at 2 year time steps. Males that lived in a main and neighboring pride were not counted as a neighbor. The method for the first hypothesis was done by analyzing the territory competition on mechanisms of fitness for reproductive success. Modeling of death, wounding, take-over events, and territory quality over 2 year intervals were taken to examine the per capita of the female reproductive …show more content…
It was then shown that territory size had no strong correlation with pride size when all data was combined. Yet habitat showed that woodland territories were smaller then territories in the plains. Woodlands habitat territory sized correlated well with the number of adult females in a pride. Yet the prides in plains had no correlation with pride size and territory size. This was surprising because it was expected to see that larger prides having larger territories, but that did not happen. This was only the case in woodland habitats; this could be from competition for resources. Methods for the fourth hypothesis relied on measuring the gain of overlap territories by another pride. A gird was used to measure area based on kernel utilization values that range from 1-75 and modeled against the distance to the middle of the territory and pride size. The results showed that prides that had more adult females were more likely to win overlapped areas. Also prides that gained territories were 24% bigger than their
Another hypothesis was that larger prides would gain the land that overlaps two pride territories. The last hypothesis was that group size would be a factor in determining availability to resources. Each of the five hypotheses then went through testing to find if they are accepted. This study took place in the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania, on a 2700 km2 study area. Study populations ranged from 5-30 prides and 50-300 individuals. Observations from 1966-1983 were used and radio collared information starting in 1984. Study prides were then located about once every 2 weeks and lions were known by their natural markings. Neighboring prides were also defined as any two prides within 3 km of their main territory. Neighboring prides that split within 2 years were excluded due to relatedness. Total number of adult female and male lions was calculated at 2 year time steps. Males that lived in a main and neighboring pride were not counted as a neighbor. The method for the first hypothesis was done by analyzing the territory competition on mechanisms of fitness for reproductive success. Modeling of death, wounding, take-over events, and territory quality over 2 year intervals were taken to examine the per capita of the female reproductive …show more content…
It was then shown that territory size had no strong correlation with pride size when all data was combined. Yet habitat showed that woodland territories were smaller then territories in the plains. Woodlands habitat territory sized correlated well with the number of adult females in a pride. Yet the prides in plains had no correlation with pride size and territory size. This was surprising because it was expected to see that larger prides having larger territories, but that did not happen. This was only the case in woodland habitats; this could be from competition for resources. Methods for the fourth hypothesis relied on measuring the gain of overlap territories by another pride. A gird was used to measure area based on kernel utilization values that range from 1-75 and modeled against the distance to the middle of the territory and pride size. The results showed that prides that had more adult females were more likely to win overlapped areas. Also prides that gained territories were 24% bigger than their