Moths exhibit strong memory among cooperative species of other taxonomic groups: An empirical study

Just as competition, cooperation is also a fundamental aspect of species' growth and survival strategies. An optimal degree of aggregation is necessary for survival and optimum population growth, perfectly balancing competition and cooperation. Like cooperation, species memory is also an essential aspect in terms of species behavior. It is debatable whether a species uses its memory for the evaluation of cooperation in an ecosystem or not. This article attempts to provide a new outlook on the relationship between the two phenomena, memory and cooperation. We have studied and analyzed time series abundance data for a large number of species available in the Global population dynamic database (GPDD) database exhibiting evidence of cooperation. Our analysis indicates that among such cooperative species, the insect community, especially the moth species, has a stronger memory than other taxonomy groups. We finally provide the idea of the interplay between memory and cooperation regarding the system's stability. These findings can open up new avenues in understanding species' behavior in the ecological niche.