Power in the Wild
The Subtle and Not-So-Subtle Ways Animals Strive for Control over Others
In Power in the Wild, animal behaviorist Lee Alan Dugatkin examines the evolution of social behavior, with a focus on struggles for power within animal societies. From ants to cuttlefish to wolves, this entertaining book surveys various species’ strategies for maintaining control.
“Animals are always looking for the chance to force others to relinquish their power,” Dugatkin writes. This might take the form of threat displays, fights over quality territory, or the reproductive suppression of subordinates. Raven groups have complex politics and force rivals into retreat, while fairy wrens punish helpers who don’t pull their weight. Working together, on the other hand, can consolidate power: dolphins and chimpanzees form coalitions, and ants build supercolonies.
Each chapter selects an example and bounces between species as varied as hermit crabs and caribou to trace those tactics across the animal kingdom. The spotted hyenas at Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve are a prime case study: individuals are identified by fur pattern, and GPS data is supplemented by following them in Land Rovers. Hyenas are matriarchal; the most powerful females reproduce earlier and give their pups priority access to kills.
Dugatkin’s snappy prose enlivens his evolutionary explanations, as of a discussion of how new technology aids in data collection. He is deliberate about highlighting the work of women researchers.
Power in the Wild is a charming tour through the wonderful, sometimes bizarre realities of animal behavior.
Reviewed by
Rebecca Foster
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
