Social Dominance in Birds

摘要: Most of the behavioral components what we now term social dominance behavior have long been recognized in animals. Darwin, his treatise on emotions humans and animals, described detail suite behaviors that characterize dominant subordinate although he did not use those terms (Darwin, 1965). Hoffer (1882, Wilson, 1975) actually stable relationships bumblebees, but findings stimulate further research. The formal scientific investigation animals began with Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe’s studies captive groups domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus) early 1920s (Schjelderup-Ebbe, 1922). Schjelderup-Ebbe observed among any two individuals within a group there existed “peck-right” relationship: fundamental asymmetry whereby one pair could consistently peck second thus force it to yield its position, while bird rarely, if ever, was able gain such an advantage over first.