Chapter 13: communication Flashcards
communication
an action or cue info given by a sender and is preceived by and alters the bahavior of the receiver
animal signals
action or structure of a signaler that sends a message to a reciever
efficacy cost
cost of making signal clear to reciver
ritualization
signlaer’s movements become highly sterotyped, repetitive and enhanced by evolution of bright colors
sterotyped behaviors
behaviors that are repaed over and over with no adaptive function
Does a signaler always realize when they are sending out a signal? In other words, do
they have to actively send out a signal in order to transmit information to the receiver?
it can be voluntary or involuntary
Who benefits from animal communication?
signaler and receiver
Can communication occur between a signaler and an unintentional receiver (an
individual that is not the target audience of the signaler)? If so, what are some examples
of this occurring?
yes, predators competition
Be able to give examples of different types of animal signals (visual, olfactory, auditory,
etc.)
odors, sounds, colors, light,
What determines what kind of signals an animal uses?
evnviornment and species
what are the 2 categories of animal signals?
- self reporting signals
- other reporting signals
self reporting signals
signals a property of a signaler ( bright color, mating call)
orther reporting signals
signals an object or an organism other than the signaler
What is the general function of animal signals? Give examples of specific types of
functions of animal signals
increase inclucsive fitness of signaler
efficacy cost
cost of making signal clear to receiver, require some type of energy
- ex. stotting behavior
handicap principle
in order for a signal to be reliable, it must be clostly bc high quality individuals can afford the cost
When will signals be honest or dishonest? When should receivers pay attention to signals or ignore them?
honest signals evolve when both the signaler and intended receiver benefit
dishonest signals are used to deceive/manipulate receiver and only benefit signaler
what are honest signals?
signals that convey accurate info about you or the environment
ex: alarm calls when predators are seen, and letting the predators know you see them
what is the bee waggle dance and what does it tel the other hive mates?
it is a dance where the female worker returns to the hive and does a figure 8 movement with abdoment to signal a food source has been found
Know the studies/examples about Vervet Monkeys, we discussed related to honest signals given to warn relatives/mates of predators and how these help the signaler and receiver
they produce multiple types of alarm calls that cary depending on the type of threat
cough=aerial threat (others can respond by looking up or hiding in bushes)
barking=ground threat (others respond by climbing trees)
chutter= ground or tree threat (other respond by standing tall and scanning grass)
What is meant by the term “Mate Investment” in relation to the downy woodpecker
example?
produce alarm calls in response to an aerial predator when foraging with a mate
