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Why do some animals choose to unite and help each other? How does sociality allow species to survive?
Sociality refers to the degree to which animals relate to each other in groups, which is reflected not only in cooperative societies, but also in the development of different behavioral patterns in response to changes in evolutionary pressures. Particularly in the face of threat from predators or during breeding season, many animals choose to engage in solidarity and mutual aid behaviors, which are often closely associated with their survival and reproductive success.
Biologists believe that pressure from parasites and other predators selects for this behavior, such as when a mother wasp cares for her larvae in a nest, which reduces the chances of them being attacked.
The core feature of this type of animal behavior is "parental investment", and any behavior that consumes resources (time, energy, social capital) to benefit the offspring is called parental investment. Although this behavior helps the next generation survive, it also reduces the parents' ability to reproduce in the future and to assist other close relatives.
Across the animal kingdom, social behavior manifests itself in a variety of ways. For example, highly social species, including "truly social" species such as bees and termites, have very complex social structures that often include multi-generational coexistence, division of labor, and effective systems for caring for young.
Characteristics of truly social animals include overlapping adult generations, cooperative young care, and division of labor in reproduction.
In contrast, species with "quasi-sociality" do not have such a clear social structure. In addition to mating and reproduction, they may only occasionally gather together to take care of their young, but they will not form lasting social connections. This behavior facilitates resource sharing within the population, enhancing the chances of survival.
In these different socialities, the role of intelligence cannot be ignored. Many social animals display advanced cognitive abilities that allow them to solve problems more effectively than solitary predators. For example, polka dot hyenas and lions have demonstrated their ability to innovate in developing hunting strategies.
As sociality evolves, animals may develop different forms of social structures, such as "subsociality," in which animals may only care for their young for a short period of time, but still display some degree of sociality. connect. In addition, although some animals are mainly solitary, they still occasionally socialize in certain situations.
For example, some mammals are solitary when obtaining food, but come together and roost together at night. This "solitary but social" behavior allows them to maintain an effective life strategy when it comes to the risk of spreading disease and obtaining food.
Sociality has undoubtedly improved the survival and reproductive success of many species during the evolutionary process, allowing them to consolidate their position in a highly competitive ecological environment.
As the survival pressures among different animals continue to change, the concept of sociality is also evolving. Some animals have evolved to become "eusocial," in which commercial and social interactions between adults are a normal part of life, and this evolution has allowed these species to maximize their survival benefits in their environment.
Human sociality has also attracted widespread attention from scientists. Well-known biologists such as Wilson and Holdobb believe that humans are not only social, but also show characteristics similar to "true sociality" in ecosystems, which also helps us work together in the face of various challenges. Collaborate to achieve win-win results.
Sociality is not only a way for animals to adapt to the environment, but also the basis for cooperation among biological communities. In the future, as we delve deeper into animal sociality, perhaps we will be able to better understand the worldview of cooperation among different species and the potential ecological significance behind this behavior.
So, in the face of increasingly complex environmental challenges, what insights can the solidarity and mutual assistance between animals bring to their survival and reproduction?
