Why do lions forage in larger than optimal groups?
This question is not yet resolved, but it is thought that it might arise from kin selection and reasons other than foraging. Sisters may band together in larger than expected groups because they can better prevent male lions from practicing infanticide. There may also be information transfer among members of the group, even if they are not aiding one another in taking down prey. For example, Greene demonstrated that nesting osprey in a colony pay attention to which birds came back with successful prey items, and if they followed such birds on successive bouts, they too were more likely to be successful themselves. Predation Risk For organisms on the predated end of the spectrum, group foraging might alleviate the risk of predation. If an animal is solitary, then the behavior it demonstrates with regard to foraging might not maximize energy intake because it must also be vigilant to predators. Many studies have demonstrated that animals forage in different ways with predators present th
