Institute of Ecosystem Studies, New York Botanical Garden, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA.
Trends Ecol Evol. 1990 Dec;5(12):411-5. doi: 10.1016/0169-5347(90)90026-A.
Recent research on space use and social behavior of small mammals has revealed pronounced differences in the degree of territoriality between species and between sexes within species. Hypotheses to explain these differences have been based on optimality approaches. Leading hypotheses are that the spatial distribution, abundance and renewal rates of food resources determine whether females defend territories, and that the spatial and temporal pattern of availability of females determines whether males are territorial. Other hypotheses invoke resources other than food, or maintain that territoriality in females deters infanticide. This review briefly summarizes these hypotheses and evaluates recently collected evidence from comparative and experimental studies.
最近关于小型哺乳动物的空间利用和社会行为的研究揭示了物种间和物种内性别间明显的领域性差异。解释这些差异的假说基于最优化方法。主要的假说认为，食物资源的空间分布、丰度和更新率决定了雌性是否会保卫领地，而雌性的可用性的时空模式决定了雄性是否具有领域性。其他假说则涉及食物以外的资源，或者认为雌性的领域性可以阻止杀婴行为。本综述简要总结了这些假说，并评估了最近从比较和实验研究中收集的证据。
