Animal Communication Flashcards
Communication
The passage of information
Zoosemiotics
The study of sounds and signals used by animals
Visual
Information perceived by sight (like displays and rituals)
Ex: Fiddler crab waving his claw to flirt with female crabs
Also includes threats of violence
Auditory
Information conveyed through sounds. Effective with long distances and darkness
Ex: Birds singing
Tactile
Information conveyed by touch
Ex: Puppies wrestling and playfighting
Chemical
Information conveyed by chemical signals, use of taste and smells
Ex: Ant’s trail leading to food
Appeasement behavior
When an animal tries to avoid harm from another animal with submissive behavior
Dog’s ears pressed against head, tail tucked between legs
Reconciliation behavior
Post-conflict behavior seeking forgiveness
Hyenas playing after fighting
Foraging behavior
In which an animal looks for food
Optimal strategy
Balances between the benefits of nutrition and the cost of getting food
Influenced by: Learned behavior, genetics, predation and parasitism
Optimal strategy
Balances between the benefits of nutrition and the cost of getting food
Influenced by: Learned behavior, genetics, predation and parasitism
Sex ratio
Ratio of female to male in a population
Polymorphism
Different forms of a life cycle or population
Frequency - Dependent selection
Sexual Selection
How animals choose which members of the population to mate with
Influenced by physical traits like color, size, or sounds
Promiscuous
No real “mates”, multiple sexual partners
Indiscriminate selection
