A territory is an area that an animal, a pair or a group defends against other members of the same species. It usually contains the resources the holder needs, such as food, shelter, nest sites or access to mates.How territories are held. Animals mark and advertise their boundaries so that fights are usually avoided. Robins and many other songbirds sing and display; wolves and cats use scent marks from urine or glands; some fish and lizards display bright colours. Fighting is risky and uses energy, so signals are the main method.Benefits to the holder
• A reliable supply of food for itself and its young.
• A safe place to breed, and often a better chance of attracting a mate, as many females choose males with good territories.Effects on the population. Holding territories is a form of intraspecific competition for space. The size of a territory depends on how much food the area provides. When all the suitable territories are occupied, individuals without one (often young animals) cannot breed and may die or move away. This limits the breeding population to the number of territories available, so population size stays fairly stable from year to year.Territories also spread individuals out, which reduces the spread of disease and the risk of over-exploiting food.Worked example. A wood of 120 hectares is fully divided into robin territories averaging 0.8 ha each. The maximum number of breeding pairs = 120 ÷ 0.8 = 150 pairs.
• A reliable supply of food for itself and its young.
• A safe place to breed, and often a better chance of attracting a mate, as many females choose males with good territories.Effects on the population. Holding territories is a form of intraspecific competition for space. The size of a territory depends on how much food the area provides. When all the suitable territories are occupied, individuals without one (often young animals) cannot breed and may die or move away. This limits the breeding population to the number of territories available, so population size stays fairly stable from year to year.Territories also spread individuals out, which reduces the spread of disease and the risk of over-exploiting food.Worked example. A wood of 120 hectares is fully divided into robin territories averaging 0.8 ha each. The maximum number of breeding pairs = 120 ÷ 0.8 = 150 pairs.