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Related Experiment Videos

Priority versus brute force: when should males begin guarding resources?

Roger Härdling1, Hanna Kokko, Robert W Elwood

  • 1Department of Animal Ecology, University of Lund, Ecology Building, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden. roger.hardling@zooekol.lu.se

The American Naturalist
|February 19, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Male animals may guard resources early, even lower quality ones, or wait to usurp. The ease of takeovers influences whether strong competitors guard early or wait, impacting guarding duration and choosiness.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Game Theory

Background:

  • Resource guarding is crucial for reproduction in species like birds and crustaceans.
  • Conflicting theories exist on whether dominant individuals secure resources early or wait to usurp.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a general model of resource guarding considering varying resource and guarder quality.
  • To explore how the possibility of takeovers influences the timing and duration of resource guarding.

Main Methods:

  • A mathematical model was developed to simulate resource guarding strategies.
  • The model incorporated variables such as competitor quality, resource quality, and ease of takeover.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Strong competitors may guard lower-quality resources early if takeovers are difficult.
  • Easier takeovers lead to shorter guarding durations and usurpation by strong competitors.
  • Intermediate-sized competitors may guard the longest when takeovers are moderately common.

    • Conclusions:

    • The optimal strategy for resource guarding depends on the trade-off between early acquisition and potential usurpation.
    • The ease of takeovers significantly shapes the relationship between competitive ability and resource acquisition timing.
    • Male choosiness can be inversely related to competitive ability, especially when takeovers are impossible.