Fighting &

Territoriality for
Reproduction - Costs
and Benefits
Resource Holding Potential –RHP
What is it? (Power) Bigger is usually
better…but not
always-# of prolonged
aerial displays won
by males for
competing for
territories

Energy reserves make the

difference!!!!

But, what about

motivation?...
 Benefits and
costs of
++++ testosterone ++++

Elephants in
musth

https://www.you
tu be.com/watch
?v=
77NghGEvfes

https://
www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=
----
gA4svbTnvvk ++/--
Males implanted with testosterone spent much more time
moving about and displaying than did males
implanted with a placebo

The survival cost of extra

activity could be offset
with a food supplement.

This demonstrates that

time spent in
territorial contests
takes away foraging
time.
Female dunnocks also compete for
resources (males) within a territory,
especially if they are in a polygynous
group

Dunnock-
Hedge
Sparrow –
Prunella
modularis
Value of territories - Quality of
the wintering territory can
affect reproductive success
 Who wins territorial contests?
Residents usually, but they are also usually the individuals
who could take a territory in the first place!!...
However:
•The cost of establishing a new territory may be more
expensive than maintaining an existing one (dear neighbor
{enemy} effect)
•Older individuals sometimes fight harder than young
individuals even if younger individuals may be more fit.
WHY?