communication

Question 1

What is communication?

Answer 1

Successful completion of signalling act Benefits both sender and receiver (if ESS)

Question 2

Communication functions

Answer 2

Reproduction: finding and attracting mates

Parent-offspring communication: contact, begging

Predator avoidance: alarm

Territoriality: marking and defending territories

Foraging: coordination, transmitting info

Group communication: coordination, decision making, contact

Question 3

Cues vs signals

Answer 3

Cue = not intended (can evolve into signals)
Signal = intended, evolved because of their effect on others

Question 4

Honest signals

Answer 4

Index = cannot be faked (deer)

Handicap = could be faked but costly to produce or maintain

Common interest = could be faked but sender and receivers benefit from reliability

Question 5

why are vocalisation indicator of quality

Answer 5

• Function: intra- as well as inter-sexual communication
• Mechanism: physical or physiological constraints that affect sound
  production
  → honest signals

Question 6

handicaps

Answer 6

• Costly signals
  Low-quality males → costs > benefit High-quality male → costs < benefit
• Badges of status
  Low production cost but high social costs (aggression, punishment)

Question 7

Common interest

Answer 7

relatedness
- bee waggle dance

Shared interest (other than relatedness) → food calls example

Question 8

Dishonest signals

Answer 8

• Mainlybetweenheterospecifics
• Low%
• Example: deceptive alarm call in fork-tailed drongos