Animals anticipate group conflicts with surveillance and bonding, study finds

A new study published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution provides evidence that numerous social animals modify their behavior when anticipating conflict with members of their own species. The research, led by Josh Arbon and Andrew Radford at the University of Bristol, proposes the concept of a 'landscape of between-group conflict,' where animals learn where and when danger is likely and adjust their actions accordingly Source: El Mundo.

Key anticipatory behaviors

The study identifies a range of pre-conflict behaviors observed across species, from ants to primates. These include increased vigilance, cautious movement, territorial marking, silent incursions into rival territory, and reinforcement of internal social bonds. Infobae highlights parallels to human warfare preparations, noting that the behaviors mirror 'aumentar la vigilancia, buscar puntos altos para reunir información y observar al adversario sin ser detectado' Source: Infobae. However, El Mundo cautions that researchers warn against imagining conscious armies identical to humans, emphasizing that the behaviors are shaped by natural selection Source: El Mundo.

Examples across species

• Chimpanzees: When approaching areas where territorial clashes often occur, groups ascend to high ground to rest and listen, reducing noisy activities like feeding or traveling Source: El Mundo.
• Dwarf mongooses: They slow their advance, increase sentinel duty, and intensify scent marking when detecting rival groups Source: El Mundo.
• Japanese macaques, chacma baboons, and some birds: They avoid using areas frequented by neighboring groups, which may be more beneficial than defending territory Source: El Mundo.

The study suggests that these preparatory behaviors can influence fitness, survival, evolution, and population dynamics Source: Infobae.