Animal Communication Flashcards
What are the main components of animal communication?
Sender, signal, receiver.
What does communication in animals transmit?
Information that alters the behaviour of the receiver.
Can animal communication be deceptive?
Yes, communication is not necessarily ‘honest’.
Through which sensory modalities can communication occur?
Auditory, visual, olfactory, chemical, mechanosensory, electric, etc
What is a signal in the context of animal communication?
A signal has evolved because it incurs a fitness benefit to the sender or receiver.
What is a cue in animal communication?
A cue is a phenotypic variation that causes a reaction in the receiver without being evolved for that purpose.
What is salience?
The quality of information that stands out from other information (e.g., brightness, loudness)
What is Perception?
the organisation, identification and interpretation of sensory information
What does Perception require?
sensory mechanisms to detect light, sound and pressure
How do fork-tailed drongos deceive other animals?
They mimic alarm calls of other species when there are no predators present.
What could direct gaze or gaze aversion do in each species?
e.g.) could be a sign of a threatening display or averting gaze from a dominant individual
What is kleptoparasitism?
It is stealing food from other animals, often facilitated by deceptive signals.
What are cooperative vocalisations in vervet monkeys?
They elicit different behavioural responses based on the type of alarm call.
What are the responses to the eagle alarm call in vervet monkeys?
Look up and run into a bush for cover.
How do superb starlings communicate about terrestrial predators?
They have 21 distinct alarm calls for terrestrial predators and fewer for raptors.
What is the role of costly signals in animal communication?
They convey information about male quality and attract mates, but can also attract predators.
What is an example of eye communication in a human setting?
E.g.) eyes on warning signs to discourage bicycle theft
How do male Northern swordtails communicate with females?
They use UV colorations that are not visible to their main predators.
What is the relationship between song components and body size in male birds?
Components of individual songs correlate with body size and resource holding potential.
What effect does traffic noise have on female crickets?
They cannot distinguish between high-quality and low-quality male courtship songs.
What is aposematism?
It is when a prey has warning patterns that honestly signal toxicity or unpalatability
What is Batesian mimicry?
Harmless species mimic signals of toxic species without the cost of producing toxins.
How do eyes function as signals in jackdaws?
Brightly colored eyes deter other jackdaws from approaching occupied nests.
What is gaze following in animals?
The ability to respond to or track another individual’s gaze.
How do eye spots serve as antipredation signals?
They tap into a predisposition to fear salient eyes.
What is the significance of eye morphology in primate communication?
It aids in cooperative communication and can conceal gaze direction.
What can the presence of eyes in warning signs influence?
It can enhance cooperation and discourage anti-social behavior.
What is the impact of eavesdropping on communication?
It can lead to negative fitness consequences for the sender.
How do signals differ from cues?
Signals are under natural selection, while cues are not evolved for communication.
What is the role of cooperative communication in pollination?
Insects obtain nectar, and flowers are pollinated through signaling.
How does the quality of information affect perception in communication?
Perception is influenced by the salience of the cue/signal and the sensory organs of the receiver.
What is the relationship between communication and ecological conditions?
Ecological conditions can influence how signals are sent and received.
What is the importance of behavioral studies in understanding communication?
They help reveal the function and evolution of communication across different environments.
What are the implications of communication being beneficial to participants?
It suggests that communication can enhance survival and reproductive success for the sender or receiver
