ABSTRACT
Misinterpretations of early biological research partly led to the assumption that animals can simply be dichotomised into territorial and non-territorial species. Social scientists have in general drawn a distinction between basic needs and social or 'higher' needs both are necessary for biological and/or social reproduction. The proximate causes for such behaviour may lie in an individual's 'selfish' wish to monopolise rare resources. At first glance, altruistic behaviour containing conscious or unconscious but delayed-return expectations can, as in the case of spatial boundary defence, be interpreted as maximising individual fitness. Spatial boundary defence and social boundary defence are strategies which are often seen as being in opposition to each other. Social boundary defence may well be the best strategy at hand in an environment with a combination of low-density resources and low population pressure of possible competitors.
