Xuming Lyu , Yeping Han

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol. 15, No. 5   
Received: 27 Aug., 2025    Accepted: 05 Oct., 2025    Published: 18 Oct., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study introduces the definition and research history of territoriality, elaborates on the core position of territorial behavior in animal ecology and behavioral science, as well as its mechanism of action on population density regulation, reproductive success and individual fitness. Meanwhile, it was explored how territorial behavior affects niche differentiation, predator-prey relationships, and community stability and diversity in community structure. Through the analysis of typical cases of birds (such as songbirds), mammals (such as wolves and lions), fish and reptiles (such as cichlids and lizards), the different manifestations and ecological significance of territoriality are demonstrated. This study also discusses the methods of incorporating territoriality into population dynamic models, including the combination of spatial heterogeneity and individual-based models, as well as the significance of territoriality for long-term population succession prediction. From an application perspective, this paper clarifies the implications of territorial behavior research for habitat protection, species restoration and human disturbance management. Territoriality is not only an individual's behavioral strategy but also an important mechanism for regulating population structure and maintaining ecosystem stability. Integrating behavioral ecology with population dynamic models is conducive to enhancing ecological prediction capabilities and the scientific nature of conservation management.

Territory behavior; Territoriality; Population ecology; Population regulation; Community structure