Mammalian sociality

摘要

Mammals generally form social groups to gain better protection from or to capture prey more efficiently. Open habitats are especially conductive to group formation because in those habitats social defenses are most effective at de- terring predators. Closed habitats are more conductive to solitary living because then concealment is ofen the best defense against predation. Group size is typically limited by competition for resources, and hease it is usually larger when food is clumped or relatively abundant.