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pecking order
pecking order The name given to the hierarchical social organization found in some insect species (e.g. ants and bees) and in many vertebrate species. It is so called because the phenomenon was first described for chickens. Based on dominance, it allows each member of the group to threaten (or actually peck) the individual immediately subordinate to it and so gain prior access to food or other resources.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "pecking order." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "pecking order." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-peckingorder.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "pecking order." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-peckingorder.html |
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pecking order
pecking order The name given to the hierarchical social organization found in some insect species (e.g. ants and bees) and in many vertebrate species. It is so called because the phenomenon was first described for chickens. Based on dominance, it allows each member of the group to threaten (or actually peck) the individual immediately subordinate to it and so gain prior access to food or other resources.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "pecking order." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "pecking order." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-peckingorder.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "pecking order." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-peckingorder.html |
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pecking order
peck·ing or·der (also peck or·der) • n. a hierarchy of status seen among members of a group of people or animals, originally as observed among hens: the luxurious office accentuated the manager's position in the pecking order. |
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Cite this article
"pecking order." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pecking order." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-peckingorder.html "pecking order." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-peckingorder.html |
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pecking order
pecking order a hierarchy of status seen among members of a group of people or animals, originally as observed among hens.
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pecking order." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pecking order." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-peckingorder.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pecking order." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-peckingorder.html |
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