Examples of Cooperation in Animals

In biology, it is known as cooperation to a certain type of intraspecific relationships (that is, relationships between members of the same species), in which individual organisms join forces to achieve a goal that provides them with common well-being, instead of competing with each other to achieve it selfishly. It is the ability to cooperate for mutual reward.

Cooperation is, therefore, the opposite of competition, and is typical of gregarious animal species, that is, of those that prefer to live in groups and communities more or less organized, as colonies and herds. By cooperating, individuals increase the chances of survival (and thus reproduction) of the entire group, rather than of a single individual, and benefit collectively.

There are two types of biological cooperation:

Finally, this type of cooperation dynamics occurs in animals, plants, microorganisms and between human beings. It is thought, in fact, that our ability to organize and cooperate was a key factor in the success evolution of our species, in which our ability to build a language played a fundamental role complex.

Examples of cooperation between animal species

Some examples of cooperation in animal species:

1. Ants live in highly organized and hierarchical colonies, in which the work is distributed among the thousands of workers that dig tunnels, look for food and take care of the queen ant, the only one capable of laying eggs and keeping the Suburb. This exchange of tasks requires a very high capacity for collaboration, since the ants are capable of sacrificing themselves to protect their queen and the anthill.
2. Squirrels have sound communication mechanisms to warn others nearby about the presence of a danger in the area. In doing so, however, they expose themselves by drawing the attention of potential predator.
3. Certain schools of fish move through the water as if they were a single individual, sticking together and dispersing only momentarily, to in this way protect each other from predators and favor their chances of survival: hundreds of eyes look at more than just two.
4. Wolves and other social predators often hunt cooperatively, that is, by attacking larger, more powerful animals in packs, so that together they can kill and feed. A lone wolf, on the other hand, would never stand a chance against a much larger animal.

References:

• “Cooperation (evolution)” on Wikipedia.
• “Intraspecific relationships” in the CCH Academic Portal of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
• "Cooperation" in Ceibal contents (Uruguay).
• “Cooperation and reciprocity in animals” by Rosaura Ruiz in The universal (Mexico).
• "Understanding animal cooperation"in the press.

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