Ch5. Signaling and Communication

Question 1

Signals

Answer 1

Any act or structure that influences the behavior of other organisms, and which evolved specifically because of that effect. Signals are deliberate. The information must be reliable to the receiver otherwise the receiver would stop responding and the system would break down.

Question 2

Cues

Answer 2

an incidental source of information that may influence the behavior of a receiver, despite not having evolved under selection for that purpose

Question 3

Strategic components

Answer 3

the information that can be extracted from the signal by the receiver. (How and why is the signal important?)

Question 4

Efficacy Components + Features

Answer 4

the structure of a signal, influencing the effectiveness of the signal to transmit its strategic element to the receiver (likelihood the signal will reach, be detected by, and influence the response of the signal)
3 features of signal efficacy
How easily can it be distinguished from the background (Is it loud enough?)
How easily can it be discriminated from other signals in the environment?
How easy is it to learn?

Question 5

Cost of Signaling

Answer 5

Large signals are costly to produce. If the cost of the signal does not reflect the quality then it is costly but not reliable.

Question 6

Zahavi’s Handicap Principle (Ex.)

Answer 6

All signals are honest reflections of an individual’s fitness. Because it should be selected against receivers attending to dishonest signals. Dishonest signals should be ignored and honest signals prevail.
ex. Females prefer long tails. Only the fittest males produce and maintain tails because only they have the quality to cope (increased predation). Because the signal is costly only the fittest individuals can produce it and maintain it while dealing with cost, therefore tail length is an honest signal.

Question 7

Index (Ex.)

Answer 7

a signal that conveys reliable information because it physically cannot be produced by inferior animals.
Ex. Can’t fake your size

Question 8

Communication

Answer 8

a process involving signaling between a sender an receiver, resulting in a perceptual response in the receiver, which extracts information from the signal, influencing the receiver’s behavior
a signal has to be present in order for it to be communicated