Satellite Male Strategy
Operating costs 40% lower than traditional defense.
Satellite strategy beats weak territorial defense. If you can't defend well, don't defend at all - exploit others' territories instead.
Not all individuals defend territory. Some adopt 'satellite' or 'sneaker' strategies - exploiting defended territories without defensive costs. Ruffs (European shorebirds) display three male strategies: Independent males (60%) defend territories, elaborate plumage, constant fighting, 12% of copulations. Satellite males (30%) no territory, visit independents' territories, less elaborate plumage, tolerated presence, sneak matings while independent fights rivals, 8% of copulations. Female mimics (10%) plumage resembles females, enter territories undetected, 3% of copulations.
The equilibrium mathematics: If independents get 12% success for 100% effort, cost per offspring = 8.3× average. If satellites get 8% success for 40% effort, cost per offspring = 5× average (more efficient!). Why don't all males become satellites? Frequency-dependent selection. Satellite strategy only works when most males are independents defending territories. If >50% become satellites, no territories exist to exploit. The mix stabilizes around 60/30/10 because this maximizes population fitness.
Business Application of Satellite Male Strategy
Dollar General's satellite strategy vs Walmart: Rather than competing head-on, Dollar General clusters small stores within Walmart's territory, capturing convenience seekers Walmart can't serve profitably. Operating costs 40% lower than traditional defense. Satellite strategies face saturation limits at 15-30% market share - beyond this, satellites compete with each other or trigger territory holder response.