Summary
Living together can provide protection, hunting benefits and shared care of young.
In depth
Benefits: dilution of risk, many eyes, cooperative hunting and thermoregulation. Costs: competition and disease transmission. Group size depends on balance.
Group living changes costs and benefits: bigger groups dilute predation risk but increase competition. Optimal group size can differ from stable group size. Some groups are family-based, others aggregations.
Key idea: sociality is a result of selection on individuals, not 'for the good of the species'.
Frequently asked questions
What is Social Groups?
Living together can provide protection, hunting benefits and shared care of young.
Which area of biology covers Social Groups, and how advanced is it?
Social Groups is one of the 53 topics in Animal Behaviour. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Dominance Hierarchies, Foraging Behaviour, Optimal Foraging Theory.
Can you give an example of Social Groups?
Starling murmurations confuse predators.
What should I learn before Social Groups?
Social Groups is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Animal Behaviour that pair well with it include Animal Behaviour, Innate Behaviour, Learned Behaviour.
What topics are related to Social Groups?
The closest topics to Social Groups are Dominance Hierarchies, Foraging Behaviour, Optimal Foraging Theory, Altruism. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Social Groups?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Social Groups. To practise the whole of Animal Behaviour, use the Animal Behaviour quiz.
How is Social Groups different from Dominance Hierarchies?
Social Groups: Living together can provide protection, hunting benefits and shared care of young. Dominance Hierarchies: Social ranking in a group that reduces conflict over resources, like the pecking order in hens. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Social Groups step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Dominance Hierarchies and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Animal Behaviour quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.