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Models of hierarchy formation in animal societies
Author(s) -
Chase Ivan D.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830190604
Subject(s) - hierarchy , dominance hierarchy , dominance (genetics) , trait , rank (graph theory) , linear model , mathematics , linear relationship , statistics , biology , computer science , combinatorics , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , economics , market economy , gene , programming language , aggression
Groups in many species of mammals and birds form hierarchies: these hierarchies are frequently linear or near linear in moderate size groups. Two models have been proposed, both implicitly and explicitly, in the literature to explain the process of hierarchy formation. One explanation contends that animals win their places in a hierarchy through a round robin competition, and the other states that there is a high statistical correlation between position and rank on some trait or composite of traits thought to predict dominance. It is demonstrated here that both models require stringent mathematical conditions to predict linear and near linear hierarchies and that available data indicate that these conditions are not met. Most of the data cited are from studies of dominance in chickens, but the same mathematical conditions are necessary to generate linear and near linear hierarchies by the round robin and correlational models in any species. Thus, the findings presented here have application to any species of animals forming linear and near linear hierarchies.