73 NCEA Style Question: Territories

1. Chimpanzees live in family groups. Males help defend the territory from other family groups. The territories of three family groups of chimpanzees (Tai North, Tai middle, and Tai south) are shown below.

N 1 km North

Middle

South

Centre of activity Tai chimp territories are particularly large and well supplied with food compared to other chimpanzee territories. Males from Tai North spend nearly a third of their time patrolling the territory. Tai middle chimps engage in defensive activity more often than either Tai North or Tai South.

Discuss the territorial behaviour of the Tai chimpanzees. Your discussion should include: • The difference between territories and home ranges • The reasons for patrolling and defending a territory • An explanation of the level of patrolling effort and encounters between the chimpanzee groups.