Territoriality: a perspective

The publication of Robert Ardrey's The Territorial Imperative in 1966 has focused light on a concept that will probably become as important and culturally arousing as Darwin s theory of evolution and Freud's theory of the human unconscious. Until Ardrey's book appeared, the concept of territoriality remained latent in the works of many scientists and in the pages of many specialized books and journals. Ardrey's book, with all the controversy surrounding it and taking into account some of its defects, is proving to be a catalyst to increasing both public and scientific interest. More importantly, it has invigorated research and experimentation in the new field of territoriality. An adequate definition of territoriality at the present time is a very difficult matter. Unfortunately, none of the present definitions express the total complexity of the concept. However, for the purpose of introduction two simple definitions are offered at this point. The most concise, though not complete, definition would probably be Noble's: "Territory is any defended area" (Nice, 1941, p. 441) . Part of the definition that Robert Ardrey opened his book with might also be considered: "A territory is an area of space, whether of water or earth or air, which an animal or group of animals defends as an exclusive preserve ..." (Ardrey, 19G6, p. 3). Just these two definitions find the geographer right in the midst of territoriality.