Communication Flashcards
How do we know if animals are communicating?
If the behaviour of one animal changes the behaviour of another.
How do Maynard and Harper define a signal?
Any act or structure which alters the behaviour of other organisms, which evolved because of that effect, and which is effective because the receiver’s response has also evolved.
How would signals be hard to fake?
If they are linked to physiology, neural capacity or physical abilities.
What is an example of a cheat?
Cuckoos fool genetically unrelated Reed Warbler parents into feeding them - they are brood parasites.
Hoverflies look like wasps and beeds which is Batesian mimicry.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using signals in the visual modality?
Visual signals have high locatability and low energy cost but only have a medium range and a poor ability to pass obstacles.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using signals in the auditory modality?
Auditory signals have a long range and good ability to pass obstacles but only medium locatability and a high energy cost.
What factors can affect signalling and the modality used?
Habitat structure can effect signal modality, for example sparrows have slower trills in forests than open country. Environmental noise can also play a role as lizards modulate their visual display according to the noise in the environment.
What factors affect is signals are selected for?
How easily they are detected, discriminated, learned and remembered.
What is aposematism?
It is where species that have defences advertise these with conspicuous coloration.
What are sensory biases?
These occur as byproducts of the sensory system and seem to be unlearned.
What are learning biases?
These arise from cognitive mechanisms that process and store information.
