Why does establishing a *Xerus* colony represent a significant, long-term investment in territory?
Answer
Due to the immense energetic cost associated with creating and maintaining a sophisticated, complex burrow system
The burrow systems utilized by *Xerus* are not minor excavations; they are elaborate, interconnected networks vital for survival, offering shelter from predators and stable temperatures year-round. The process of digging these deep, complex structures requires a vast expenditure of energy. Because of this massive initial investment, once a suitable location is secured, the colony tends to remain in that territory for generations. Dispersal becomes highly costly, thus locking the colony into defending and inhabiting that specific piece of land long-term, serving as indicators of ecosystem stability.
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