Why do animals fight? When do they avoid it?

Essay from the year 2003 in the subject Biology - Behaviour, grade: 2.1 (B), Oxford University (New College), language: English, abstract: Conflict is very common in the animal kingdom. In many cases conflict between animals is resolved by displaying and actual fighting is avoided, but there are also many examples of fighting, some of which end up in the death of the opponent. From observations of animal conflict it is clear that some circumstances are more conductive to fighting than other...