Tag: intergroup aggression
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Chimps Kill for Territory to Gain Reproductive Edge, New Study Finds
Territory, Conflict, and Reproductive Strategy A long-standing question in primatology is how social competition shapes reproductive outcomes. A growing body of field evidence suggests that chimpanzee communities that engage in lethal intergroup aggression to seize territory do not do so in a vacuum. The behavior appears tightly linked to reproductive advantages for the dominant groups…
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Territory Warfare: How Chimpanzee Kills Shape Reproductive Success
Understanding the Study For years, researchers have watched chimpanzee communities in the dense forests of Africa to understand how territory and social dynamics influence reproduction. A landmark study led by primatologist John Mitani at the University of Michigan documented a stark pattern: chimpanzee groups that engage in lethal aggression against neighboring communities to seize territory…