Final answer:
Mammal survival in groups relies on social behaviors like cooperation and communication, offering advantages like protection from predators and efficient resource gathering.
Step-by-step explanation:
For mammals who live in groups, survival depends upon social behaviors such as cooperation, communication, and division of labor within the group. Many species of mammals exhibit social living as it provides adaptive benefits that increase their chances of survival. For example, mammals employ various social structures and behaviors such as altruistic behavior, where one animal's actions benefit another, and cooperative behavior, where the actions benefit all members of the group. Moreover, mammals engage in complex communication, which is essential for the coordination of activities within the group such as hunting, mating, rearing young, and defending against predators.
In the case of prey animals, living in clumped population distributions can be particularly beneficial. It offers increased protection from predators due to the 'safety in numbers' effect, which dilutes individual risk. Furthermore, social mammals, including humans, have formed groups for millions of years, creating common behaviors and methods for obtaining food, safeguarding their offspring, and ensuring overall survival of the group.