7. Intraspecific Competition

Aggressive behaviour

Behaviour that threatens or injures an opponent

Agnostic behaviour

Ritualised threat and appeasement displays between members of the same species, can result in avoiding aggressive conflict and injury

Hierarchy

A system of social dominance with individuals each occupying a set rank

Alpha

Animal at the top of a social hierarchy that receives all of the best resources and priority access to mates. Usually the strongest and most dominant

Home range

An area that an animal uses to find food and mates, but will not defend

Territory

A defined area that is actively defended against other animals of the same species

Submissive behavior

Behaviours a less-dominant animal exhibits toward a more-dominant animal to prevent being subjected to aggression. e.g. lowering of head, avoidance of eye contact, reduced apparent physical size