International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 249-259 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 25 1 reptiles such as lizards will make exaggerated body movements (such as bright-colored laryngeal pouch dilation, nodding up and down, etc.) to warn their own kind to stay away (Ord, 2021). A study by some scholars on tropical parrots in the Americas found that their response intensities to territorial neighbors and unfamiliar intrusions were significantly different. This phenomenon of "neighbor-stranger discrimination" (also known as the "affinity effect") is also common among mammals (Niaskiewicz et al., 2024). 2.3 Factors affecting the size and strength of territory The size and defense intensity of an animal's territory are not fixed but are influenced by a variety of internal and external factors. The distribution and abundance of resources are the key ecological factors determining the size of a territory: when resources are sparsely scattered in space, individuals need a larger area to meet their demands, and the territory is often larger. Conversely, if resources are abundant and concentrated, animals can obtain sufficient resources in a smaller territory (Keeley, 2000; Mayer et al., 2020). For example, studies on free-moving dogs in urban environments have found that in urban areas where food is highly dense and predictable, the activity area (which can be regarded as territory) of dog packs is significantly smaller than that in rural areas where food is scarce (Thanapongtharm et al., 2021). Population density and social environment also profoundly influence territorial dynamics. When the density of individuals of the same species increases and competition is intense, the number of territories that can be accommodated in a unit space increases, and individuals are often forced to reduce their territories to achieve spatial sharing (Mayer et al., 2020). Long-term studies on red squirrels have shown that the territory size of squirrels has a significant negative density dependence: in years of high population density, the territory of each squirrel decreases on average compared to years of low density, and the territory overlap rate increases (Berlusconi et al., 2025). Furthermore, individual characteristics (such as gender, body type, age and physiological state) can also affect the size of their territory and defense capabilities (Asensio et al., 2018). For example, the odor marking behavior of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) on territorial boundaries, which uses odor information to maintain territorial integrity and social interaction (Figure 1) (Mayer et al., 2020). Generally, adult males have the largest territory and devote the most energy to defense during the breeding season. This is because males need territory to attract mates and ensure space for raising their offspring. Figure 1 Spatial distribution of beaver territories and scent marking behavior in southeastern Norway (Adopted from Mayer et al., 2020) Image caption:south-east Norway (red dot, a) and (b) a schematic representation of a beaver territory, the main lodge, the location of the experimental scent mounds (ESM), ESM areas and border areas. The picture (c) shows a Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) sniffing an ESM (Adopted from Mayer et al., 2020)
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