My lecture on social dynamics in a meerkat colony would cover the following topics: 1) Cooperative living: the importance of working together for the colony's survival, including tasks like foraging and sentinel duty; 2) Reproduction and roles: explaining the role of the dominant pair, subordinate members, and offspring in the colony; 3) Communication: discussing the various vocalizations and body gestures meerkats use to maintain cohesion and warn of potential threats; and 4) Conflict and resolution: showcasing examples of how meerkat colonies can engage in conflicts with neighboring colonies, but also resolve internal tensions to maintain social harmony.
Imagine you are a zoologist specializing in animal behavior, and you've been asked to present a lecture on social dynamics in a meerkat colony. What key aspects would you discuss?