Final answer:
The false statement concerning lion cooperative living is c. First and second ranked males sire the majority of cubs, as lion pride dynamics are more complex and not strictly based on such a ranking system.
Step-by-step explanation:
In regards to the question on which statement concerning lion cooperative living is false, we can deduce the answer by evaluating each option against known lion behavior:
- a. Larger coalitions are composed of unrelated males. This is typically true since male lions often form coalitions with unrelated males to increase their chances of taking over a pride.
- b. Prides are composed of closely related females. This is true, as lion prides usually consist of related females who work cooperatively, especially in hunting.
- c. First and second ranked males sire the majority of cubs. In a pride, the dominant males usually sire the cubs, but not exclusively the first and second ranked as the social dynamics can be complex.
- d. Males taking over a pride will practice infanticide. This is a known behavior, where new males will kill the offspring of the previous males to bring the females back into estrus.
- e. Female lions nurse each other's cubs. This is known as alloparenting or communal rearing and is a common practice among female lions in a pride.
The false statement is therefore c. First and second ranked males sire the majority of cubs, because while dominant males do generally sire offspring, it is not limited to a rigid ranking within the pride. The social dynamics among males are more complex, and rank can be fluid. Besides, if only first and second ranked males were to sire the majority of cubs, it could potentially lead to a genetic bottleneck which is not usually the case in lion populations.
- Larger coalitions of unrelated males
- Related females in prides
- Infanticide by new males