1.9 - Communication and Language Flashcards
communication
passing a signal that has evolved for a specific purpose
examples of purposes for communication (4)
- status
- quality
- alarm
- location
behaviour/communication observed when food is plentiful
as expected
behaviour/communication observed when food is scarce
more unpredictable
important features of studying communication (3)
- context
- history
- meta-
communication channels (4)
- visual
- auditory
- odour
- tactile
how do bees communicate what flowers to visit?
bees go to flowers with other bees on them and learn colours of flowers other bees have visited
properties of our language system (3)
- communication has functional relevance
- symbolic and arbitrary
- signal displaced from meaning
varied alarm call of black-capped chickadee
more dee-dee notes for smaller predators who are more dangerous
how do vervet monkey calls elicit different behaviours depending on predator (3)
- leopard: hide in tree
- eagle: look up then hide in a bush
- snake: be vigilant then mob
cross-species communication between vervet monkeys and superb starlings
vervets respond to distinct raptor and ground predator alarms of superb starlings
how is inter-sexual communication used for species recognition
auditory signalling used to recognise species members in environments with poor visibility
sexual dimorphism
differential ability of individuals of different genetic types to acquire mates generates differences in appearance between males and females
purpose of communication in intra-sexual competition
fighting is costly and can be avoided if you communicate your strength
example of communication used in intra-sexual competition
red deer roar in stand-off, roaring stamina honest signal of strength
Handicap principle
only males in good condition capable of performing costly displays therefore display is indicator of physical condition
inter-sexual communication for mate choice
if honest signal there has to be relationship between trait and ‘good genes’ (handicap principle)
