General Schema For The Analysis Of Mammalian Inter-individual Interactions (Clara B. Jones)

How to cite:

Jones CB (Yr-Mo-Date) General schema for the analysis of mammalian inter-individual interactions. Science.  http://vertebratesocialbehavior.blogspot.com/2020/08/general-schema-for-analysis-of.html

In Community Ecology, there are three (3) types of species-species interactions: Competition [-, -]; Predator-Prey [+, -]; Mutualism [+, +]. 

We can interpolate these three types of interactions from the Community-level to the Population-level--interactions between individuals of the same species (inter-individual interactions*). Thus, the three (3) types of inter-individual interactions become: Competition [-, -]; Selfish or Social Parasitism [+, -]; Social [Cooperation (+, +), Altruism (-, +)].

When quantified, these 3 types of inter-individual interactions can be employed to classify all interactions, effecting the decomposition of variability.

As for inter-specific interactions, inter-individual interactions may be Facultative or Obligate.

*Primatologists usually call "inter-individual interactions," "social" interactions or "bonds."