International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 249-259 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 25 0 when defending territory requires the collaboration of partners, it often promotes the evolution and maintenance of monogamy (Weiner et al., 2019; Moura and Menezes, 2021; Wang et al., 2022). This study will explore the mechanism and significance of territorial behavior in population ecology, introduce the biological basis of territorial behavior, and analyze how territoriality regulates population density, reproduction, and individual fitness, as well as how it affects species coexistence and interaction in community structure. The diverse manifestations and ecological consequences of territoriality are deeply illustrated through typical cases (songbirds, wolves and lions, cichlids and lizards). Meanwhile, the progress of incorporating territoriality into population dynamic modeling is discussed. From the perspective of conservation biology, the implications of territorial behavior research for habitat protection, species restoration, and human-wildlife conflict management are explored, hoping to deepen the understanding of the important role of territoriality in maintaining population and community stability. 2 The Biological Basis of Territorial Behavior 2.1 Classification of territorial behavior The territorial behavior forms of animals and animals are diverse and can be classified according to dimensions such as function and duration. Take birds as an example. The classic classification divides the territory into six types: Class A territory is a "fully functional territory", covering all activity Spaces such as mating, nesting and foraging; Class B territory is limited to mating and nesting and does not include the main feeding areas. Class C territory only includes the nest site and a small area around it (commonly seen in waterfowl that breed in groups). Class D territory is only used for pairing and courtship (such as species with a mating field); Class E territory refers to the nocturnal habitat territory. Category F territories are seasonal territories, such as the foraging range of migratory birds defending their wintering grounds (Ord, 2021). Although the territorial forms of different species are not the same, the core feature is to occupy - defend a certain space to exclusively enjoy the key resources within it (Juarez et al., 2020). In addition to classification by function, territorial behavior can also be divided based on the actor and stability. For instance, some species have their territory defended by a single individual (such as most solitary male birds); There are also species that jointly defend territory in communities or families. For example, wolves patrol boundaries in family groups (Sells et al., 2021). The duration of the territory also varies: some animals retain a fixed territory throughout the year, which is called a permanent territory; Some others only form temporary territories during the breeding season, and the territorial relations become loose after the breeding season. These differences reflect the adaptation strategies of different species to resources and the environment (Mayer et al., 2020). 2.2 Establishment and maintenance mechanism of territory The establishment of territory usually begins with an individual's repeated inspection and marking of a certain area, making the surrounding peers aware of their possession. Different groups of animals use their own specific ways to mark the boundaries of their territories and maintain territorial stability: Among mammals, many carnivores leave signals at the edge of their territories through odor markers (urine, anal gland secretions, etc.) to act as "odor fences" (Candolin and Voigt, 2001; Zubizarreta et al., 2020). A study on African wild dogs shows that the social structure of the group can affect their odor marking strategies. Factors such as the number of pups in the group and the number of adjacent competing communities can all change the patterns in which they choose marking locations and frequencies. This reflects the important role of olfactory signals in territorial maintenance: Territorial owners regularly patrol the border and add odor markers to convey the message of "this is occupied" to potential intruders, thereby reducing frontal conflicts (Sells et al., 2021; Hansen et al., 2025). In addition to chemical signals, sound and visual signals are also important means for animals to declare their territory. Male songbirds often stand in prominent positions within their territory and sing loudly, using auditory signals to mark their territory and attract mates. For instance, studies have found that urban birds such as the dark-eyed raven had reduced singing activities and lower movement distances during pandemic lockdowns (" quiet periods "), suggesting a decrease in territorial intrusions (Walters et al., 2022). For instance, in visual display,
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