Final answer:
Territorial defense can take the form of display behaviors like the gibbon song, male gorillas chest-thumping, and robins showing their red breast. These signals help animals claim and maintain critical resources without resorting to physical conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
Animals often defend their territories through display behaviors rather than physical confrontations. These behaviors are a non-violent way to signal to other animals to stay away from a particular area, which is typically filled with resources such as food, nesting sites, and space for raising offspring. A common example of a display behavior is the gibbon song, a vocal territorial claim used by gibbons. Male gorillas will also demonstrate their dominance by pounding their chests and thumping the ground. Birds, like robins, might display bright colors to signal territory boundaries, while magpies may engage in aggressive behavior towards intruders.
In environments where resources are scarce, a species may be more likely to adopt territorial behavior. Non-violent displays are usually safer and conserve more energy than fighting, providing a survival advantage. This territoriality results in a specific distribution of individuals within a species, offering insights into their social behavior and interactions.