2. Courtship Rituals
– elaborate behaviors before mating
-a way to confirm that the other
individual is of the same species and
opposite sex
-a way for the animal to announce it is
ready to mate
-a way to impress and show off qualities
to a potential mate
*potential mate can use the ritual to
judge the health of the other
3. Aggressive Behaviors – physical struggles or
threatening behaviors
Ex: tests of strength
*Involves spending a lot of energy “fighting”
*Fights are almost never fights to the death
4. This often leads to the formation of a
Dominance Hierarchy – ranking of individuals within a group
*no need to spend energy fighting each other
*spend energy on more important things
5. Territorial Behaviors
Territory – an area that an individual defends and from
which other members of the same species are excluded
To defend their territory, animals
– make noise
– mark their territory (scent markers)
*takes energy!
*have exclusive access to resources
6. Group Communication – passing information to other individuals
Ex: Honeybee “Waggle Dance”
Cooperation – individuals work together in a way that is beneficial
to the group
Mutualism – two different species interact and both species benefit
from the interaction
7. Group Communication – passing information to other individuals
Ex: Honeybee “Waggle Dance”
Cooperation – individuals work together in a way that is beneficial
to the group
Mutualism – two different species interact and both species benefit
from the interaction
