Fission–fusion society

The change in composition, subgroup size, and dispersion of different groups are 3 main elements of a fission-fusion society.

The change in composition, subgroup size, and dispersion of different groups are 3 main elements of a fission-fusion society.

[1][2] Chimpanzees often form smaller subgroups when travelling for longer periods at a time in between each food patch.

If food is worth retrieving due to little travel costs, subgroup size will enlarge.

So among chimpanzees, the abundance of food and how dense it may be are factors that contribute to the changes of subgroup sizes.

[4] Travel parties are established among this species inhabiting specifically in a Sumatran forest, and there are several benefits.

When travelling, females are required to support their mid-sized infants by carrying them, and waiting for them if they have fallen behind.

In hunter-gatherer societies, humans form groups which are made up of several individuals that may split up to obtain different resources.

In a fission–fusion society, the main parent group can fracture (fission) into smaller stable subgroups or individuals to adapt to environmental or social circumstances.