{"id":554114,"date":"2026-07-17T09:04:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T09:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/554114\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T09:04:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T09:04:18","slug":"what-animals-do-before-going-to-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/554114\/","title":{"rendered":"What animals do before going to war"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Group<\/p>\n

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A group of meerkats standing together in the face of an outside threat.<\/p>\n

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Credit: Andy Radford, University of Bristol<\/p>\n

Social animals use\u00a0a suite of preemptive behaviors in anticipation\u00a0of\u00a0conflict,\u00a0including staying quiet,\u00a0monitoring\u00a0their surroundings, conducting raids,\u00a0and bonding through play.\u00a0In a\u00a0review\u00a0publishing\u00a0in the Cell Press journal\u00a0Trends in Ecology & Evolution\u00a0on July 16, researchers describe how\u00a0environmental cues and memories of past events\u00a0can trigger these behaviors.\u00a0Over generations,\u00a0these\u00a0pre-war preparations\u00a0could\u00a0impact\u00a0socio-cognitive evolution, population dynamics, and community structures.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIntergroup conflict is rife throughout the natural world, being found in social species from ants to primates,\u201d says corresponding author Andrew Radford of the University of Bristol\u00a0in the\u00a0UK.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conflict over resources such as territory space, food, or mating exerts a powerful evolutionary force on social species, potentially impacting\u00a0fitness\u00a0and survival, say the researchers.\u00a0Traditionally, research has focused on actions between rival groups during contests and the behavioral consequences afterward.\u00a0But evolution can also select for preemptive behaviors that maximize the chances of winning\u00a0in a conflict.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is becoming very clear is that preemptive behavior is widespread whenever intergroup conflict is found,\u201d says first author Josh Arbon of the University of Bristol. \u201cThere is growing evidence that the amount of anticipatory behavior displayed is dependent on the current threat level.\u00a0More is seen when rivals are more likely to be encountered,\u00a0larger in size, less familiar,\u00a0or more likely to attack.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Humans have long been known to prepare for warfare by increasing surveillance, using elevated areas to gather information, conducting ambushes and raids, and moving quietly through enemy territory to avoid detection. Recent studies of wild animals\u00a0provide\u00a0similar examples of\u00a0preparation for encounters with rival groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cStudying other species experimentally and in natural conditions can not only expand our understanding of a widespread aspect of\u00a0sociality\u00a0but\u00a0also\u00a0help to provide insights into our own conflict ancestry,\u201d Radford says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Observations of chimpanzees have revealed that groups tend to rest on hilltops in areas where intergroup contests occur rather than engage in noisier activities such as feeding or traveling. In addition, experiments have shown that dwarf mongooses respond to olfactory or vocal cues of rivals by moving more slowly and engaging in sentinel behaviors, which allow them to monitor their surroundings more easily.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The threat of intergroup conflict can also influence the space-use patterns of animals. To signal territorial ownership, dwarf mongooses deposit more scent marks in response to simulated rival intrusions, and meerkats tend to scent mark near burrows examined by intruders. Similarly, black howler monkeys return to locations of past contests, potentially to advertise their presence to neighbors. By contrast, Japanese macaques, chacma baboons, and long-tailed tits avoid areas inhabited by rivals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond space-use patterns within a commonly used area, a more extreme preemptive behavior is raiding\u2014actively seeking out rivals on their home turf. For example, male chimpanzees silently invade neighboring territories in single file and move toward other groups\u2019 vocalizations,\u00a0apparently preparing\u00a0to attack rivals. Banded mongooses also engage in lethal gang attacks, conducting raids to kill the offspring of rival groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the threat from outsiders is greater, various mammal species stay closer to one another. For instance, chimpanzees groom and play with one another more in advance of collective territory defense.\u00a0Such behaviors\u00a0likely facilitate\u00a0communication, reduce anxiety, enhance bonding, and promote a stronger fighting force.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is increasing evidence that non-human animals adjust various behaviors to enhance information gathering, incentivize contest participation, reduce anxiety, and minimize collective and individual risk in anticipation of encounters with rival groups,\u201d Arbon says. \u201cWhat is notable is that these behaviors occur across a diverse range of social species.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the authors, questions for future research include examining how animals assess the intergroup threat level and adjust their preemptive behavior accordingly.\u00a0The cognitive demands associated with preemptive actions\u00a0also\u00a0remain\u00a0unclear.\u00a0These responses are shaped by multiple interacting factors, including\u00a0sensed information\u00a0and\u00a0memories of past encounters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIntergroup conflict could be an important social driver of cognitive evolution,\u201d Radford says. \u201cBut this remains an idea that is difficult to test,\u00a0and teasing apart the relative importance of signals and cues from memories is a challenge.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTo understand fully the influence and importance of intergroup conflict, including for our own evolution, we must study the complete timeline of behaviors,\u00a0not just those during and after contests\u00a0but also those that occur in\u00a0anticipation,\u201d Arbon says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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This work was supported by the\u00a0Natural\u00a0Environment Research Council.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trends in Ecology & Evolution,\u00a0Arbon &\u00a0Radford,\u00a0\u201cPre-emptive\u00a0behavior\u00a0in a landscape of intergroup conflict\u201d\u00a0https:\/\/www.cell.com\/trends\/ecology-evolution\/fulltext\/S0169-5347(26)00145-X<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trends in Ecology & Evolution\u00a0(@Trends_Ecol_Evo<\/a>), published by Cell Press, is a monthly review journal that\u00a0contains\u00a0polished, concise, and readable reviews and opinion pieces in all areas of ecology and evolutionary science. It aims to keep scientists informed of new developments and ideas across the full range of ecology and evolutionary biology\u2014from the pure to the applied, and from molecular to global. Visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.cell.com\/trends\/ecology-evolution<\/a>.\u00a0To receive Cell Press media alerts, please contact\u00a0press@cell.com<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Journal<\/p>\n

Trends in Ecology & Evolution<\/p>\n

Method of Research<\/p>\n

Systematic review<\/p>\n

Subject of Research<\/p>\n

Animals<\/p>\n

Article Title<\/p>\n

Pre-emptive behavior in a landscape of intergroup conflict<\/p>\n

Article Publication Date<\/p>\n

16-Jul-2026<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.<\/p>\n