Communication Flashcards
Define communication
Transmission of information from a sender to a receiver, who may in different temporal or spatial location
Examples of communication? (4)
‘Eavesdropping’ i.e. use of public info
Courtship behaviour
Warning signs
Releasers
Key features of communication? (5)
At least 2 individuals Can be between different species Occurs in specific contexts for meaning to be clear Lying may occur Signal and receiver must have co-evolved
What is haemolymph?
Chemical defence secreted by ladybirds - honest communication as they warn by bright colouration
Deception in hoverflies?
Mimics - exploit colouration of wasps without possessing the dangerous trait
Examples of pheromone communication? (2)
Kangaroos taste urine of females to gauge stage of oestrogen cycle for mating
Lions - use Jacobson’s organ to detect female pheromones
Five types of sensory communication? (modes)
Visual Auditory Chemical Tactile Electrical
What are the characteristics of sensory communication? (6)
Distance Localisation i.e. do they need to be on the spot Obstacle avoidance Speed of exchange Complexity Durability
What can influence birdsong?
Environment had greatest role - e.g. denser forests = low pitch, less frequencies
Evolutionary origins of communication?
Derived from other purposes and co-opted for communication
e.g. crane courting dance originated as take off behaviour
Multi-modal communication?
Using multiple modes e.g. visual and auditory to convey a signal
Drosophila courtship signalling
- Male orients to females, even in the dark, and releases pheromones
- Male follows female, vibrating wing
- Male licks female abdomen with feet (derived from feeding behaviour)
- Copulation
What did Jallon add to Drosophila mating?
Male wing vibration is dependent on female cuticular pheromones
Vibration also wafts pheromones to female - not just an auditory signal
Honest signals?
Must be costly to send, and related to quality of sender
Generally driven by mate choice
Cues vs signals?
Signals - evolved to increased fitness of sender by altering behaviour of receiver
Cues did not evolve for this purpose, even if they have the same effect
Example of cue, not honest signal?
Baldness - although it is honest, i.e. is indicative of high testosterone and is costly, it did not evolve to show this
Communication in red deer?
Males in ruts grunt (auditory) plus send chemical signals and have antlers (visual)
All day grunting indicates the male is strong - does not need to rest/eat
Larger body size - lower pitch
What are the costs of honest signals? (3)
Predation risk
Energetic demand
Social cost
Social cost of honest signals in birds?
Badge of status - larger badges indicate higher status. This comes with increased risk of conflict - if they lie, this is more likely to be fatal/damaging
Dishonest signals in Fiddler crabs?
One large claw indicates quality of male - after loss in a fight, it can be regrown but as a ‘fake’ version which is then a dishonest signal
Signalling in vervet monkeys
Alarm behaviour due to large social structure. Different alarm signals signal different threats (airborne, ground based) causing different behaviours (hiding, tree climbing) - all honest
Capuchins can exploit this by mimicking ground predator alarm, causing monkeys to abandon food and climb trees
What are releasers?
Signs that stimulate a behaviour e.g. red dots on herring beaks where chicks peck for food
What is Intraspecific communication
Intraspecific communication is within a single species (e.g. Honey Bee dance).
Why is comunication important?
Agonistic interaction - threat displays during competition over food, mates or territory.
Mating rituals – to attract and maintain the attention of a potential mate.
Ownership/territoriality – to claim or defend territory
Food-related signals – to lead members of a social group to a food source.
Alarm calls – to warn of a threat from a predator.
What are static and dynamic signals
Static
Does not change over time such as size, sex, age, status in the group etc.
Dynamic
it can change over time such as motivation, arousal levels, emotions etc.
Describe the common motivational system for communication
Signals that are low and harsh indicate aggression.
Signals that are high and harsh indicate fear e.g. a scream.
Signals that are high and whiny indicate sadness e.g. crying.
Signals that are mid-level and modulated indicate happiness.
