Final answer:
Top ranking animals, known as dominant animals, are the most physically adept and have privileged access to resources due to their superior traits, such as strength and intelligence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Top ranking animals, called dominant animals, are typically the most physically capable and receive the best access to resources. In the real world, competition for resources like food, water, shelter, nesting space, and mates results in intraspecific competition, where members of the same species vie for these necessities.
The dominant animals in a population often have an edge in this competition due to their superior strength, intelligence, or other advantageous traits. For example, dominant male lions have a mane and are larger than females, which gives them an advantage in mating and competing for resources. Similarly, intelligence offers a significant benefit in acquiring resources and avoiding danger.
Humans are the most intelligent animals, heavily relying on learned behaviors; other intelligent species include dolphins, apes, and ravens. In nature, a high energy budget and extensive energy storage are advantageous for dominant animals. However, they often produce smaller numbers of offspring with significant parental care, a strategy observed in K-selected species.