Territoriality

Territoriality is the defended use of a defined area by individuals or groups to secure resources such as food, shelter, or mates. A territory is a defended space with predictable access to resources and breeding opportunities, distinct from a home range, which is simply the area used. Territorial behavior occurs across many taxa, though forms vary.

Defenders employ signals and actions to establish and maintain boundaries, including scent marking, vocalizations, displays, and patrols. Territories may be permanent or seasonally defended and can protect feeding areas, mating sites, or nesting sites. The size and shape of a territory depend on resource distribution and the costs of defense.

Benefits of territoriality include reliable resource access and increased mating opportunities; costs include energy expenditure, risk of injury, and reduced foraging flexibility. The prevalence of territory defense depends on resource abundance, density, and spatial distribution, consistent with the ecological defendability concept.

Territoriality operates at scales from small micro-territories to large home ranges with defended core areas, and strategies include resource defense, mate defense, and parental territory. Boundaries may be clear or negotiable, and turnover can occur with changes in density or resources. Research uses mapping, marking, and behavioral observation to assess territory size, overlap, and turnover.

In humans, territoriality appears in property rights, personal space, and territorial markers, reflecting similar pressures to secure resources and social claims.