Agonistic Behavior vs. Territoriality

[amalgamgrillz]

I just took a mock DAT with Kaplan and I missed two questions regarding agonistic behaviors:

15. Which of the following is an example of an agonistic display?
a. courtship behavior
b. a dog baring its teeth and erecting its ear
c. a dog attacking and injuring another dog
d. waggle dances of honey bees to indicate the direction of food
e. scent-oriented retrieval by dogs

31. Bull sea lions will defend the small territories they use fo rmating from other bull sea lions. This is an example of
a. an agonistic display
b. a dominance hierarchy
c. a conditioned reflex
d. territoriality
e. courtship behavior

According to kaplan's section on intraspecific behaviors, agonistic behaviors are defined as "things such as a dog's display of appeasement by wagging its tail; antagonistic behaviors are things such as a dog directing its face forward and raises its body."

However from animal behavior class, behavioral ecology, wikipedia, and many other education sources, I learned agonistic behaviors are "Aggressive behavior between conspecifics usually involves fighting over a limiting resource such as food, water, space, or mates"

So which is correct? Also, is this any different than territoriality displays?

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[Kahr]

I just took a mock DAT with Kaplan and I missed two questions regarding agonistic behaviors:

15. Which of the following is an example of an agonistic display?
a. courtship behavior
b. a dog baring its teeth and erecting its ear
c. a dog attacking and injuring another dog
d. waggle dances of honey bees to indicate the direction of food
e. scent-oriented retrieval by dogs

31. Bull sea lions will defend the small territories they use fo rmating from other bull sea lions. This is an example of
a. an agonistic display
b. a dominance hierarchy
c. a conditioned reflex
d. territoriality
e. courtship behavior

According to kaplan's section on intraspecific behaviors, agonistic behaviors are defined as "things such as a dog's display of appeasement by wagging its tail; antagonistic behaviors are things such as a dog directing its face forward and raises its body."

However from animal behavior class, behavioral ecology, wikipedia, and many other education sources, I learned agonistic behaviors are "Aggressive behavior between conspecifics usually involves fighting over a limiting resource such as food, water, space, or mates"

So which is correct? Also, is this any different than territoriality displays?

Your definition from the various sources is correct. Agonistic behavior is aggressive behavior between individuals over various things as you noted; it can involve ritualistic or symbolic behavior, or actual combat, etc. So the answer "b" in the first question is correct. This is contrasted with submissive behaviors.

What's the difference? Territoriality is specifically based on defending a specific place/area (often done so through agonistic behaviors), while agonistic behaviors can take place anywhere regardless of the place the animal is at. So theoretically a territoriality display could easily be called an agonistic behavior, its just that the definition is different because its specific to defense of a territory.

Well, hope that made sense, felt like I was explaining in circles...😉

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Your definition from the various sources is correct. Agonistic behavior is aggressive behavior between individuals over various things as you noted; it can involve ritualistic or symbolic behavior, or actual combat, etc. So the answer "b" in the first question is correct. This is contrasted with submissive behaviors.

What's the difference? Territoriality is specifically based on defending a specific place/area (often done so through agonistic behaviors), while agonistic behaviors can take place anywhere regardless of the place the animal is at. So theoretically a territoriality display could easily be called an agonistic behavior, its just that the definition is different because its specific to defense of a territory.

Well, hope that made sense, felt like I was explaining in circles...😉

thanks! Why cant the first question be "c"? Can't agonistic behaviors be acts of aggression, such as attacking?

 

[Kahr]

thanks! Why cant the first question be "c"? Can't agonistic behaviors be acts of aggression, such as attacking?

Sure, agonistic behaviors can be attacks; I'm gonna have to say it's just the particular wording of the question, "agonistic display" (since an actual attack wouldn't be simply a display), yes I know, lame, but that's my best guest here.

 

[Lane138]

I remember reading that agonist behaviors is a display of aggressive behavior, such as baring a dog's teeth or growling and is meant to establish the pecking order. The whole point is to show who's boss WITHOUT having to physically fight and thus avoids risks of injury for both parties.

 

[annieannie]

I had this question as well, but then what is the difference between agonistic display vs. antagonistic display?

 

[Kahr]

I had this question as well, but then what is the difference between agonistic display vs. antagonistic display?

I don't think you use the term antagonistic display. Hmm, here's how I would think of it: antagonism causes a negative after effect, while agonism causes a positive after effect. So I think the wording is about the desired after effect. I'll try two examples here: after growling and barring its teeth at the intruding dog, the growling dog got to eat his meal in peace (agonistic); after being growled at the intruding dog was forced to flee and go hungry (antagonistic). I hope this makes sense.

I want to also add that I think in biology, the term antagonistic is more often used in pharmacology, hormones, etc. So I think you'll be safe remembering agonistic behaviors as described previously, and relegating antagonism to the inner-working of body stuff.

 

[annieannie]

Thanks, that helps a lot! Kaplan gives one or 2 sentences on agonistic vs antagonistic display, which made it confusing and unclear.