Communication Flashcards
What is dishonest signaling?
Sender may benefit at the expense of the receiver.
What is Betesian mimicry?
Mimicking warning coloration, but not toxic.
Why do Ravens “yell”?
They gang up on the territorial residents.
What is the Zahavi’s Handicap principal?
Honest signaling can evolve when traits are very costly to fake.
What is meta-communication?
One signal defines the meaning of those signals that follow.
What is an example of meta-communication?
A dog’s play bow.
What are the benefits of visual messages? (2)
- Easy to locate sender. 2. Travels fast.
What are the negatives of visual messages? (3)
- Difficult for visual signal to travel around an object. 2. Easy for it to be located by the predator. 3. Signal does not last long.
What are the benefits of auditory signals? (5)
- Travels rapidly. 2. Can be effective over long distances. 3. Can go around obstacles. 4. Effective at night. 5. Signals can potentially be rapidly exchanged and modulated.
What is the negative of auditory signals?
They do not last a long time.
What are the benefits of low volatile signals? (3)
- They last a long time. 2. The animal does not have to be immediately present to convey a signal – may be able to avoid predators. 3. Energetically inexpensive.
What are low volatile signals used for? (2)
- To mark boundaries. 2. Detect females reproductive state.
What are the negatives of low volatile signals? (3)
- Short distance communication. 2. Difficult to modulate signal. 3. Difficult to locate the sender.
What are the benefits of high volatile signals? (2)
- Lasts for a short time. 2. Goes around barriers.
What is the negative of high volatile signals?
Difficult to modulate the signal.
What are high volatile signals used for?
Alarm calls.
What is intention movement?
Behavior patterns that precede or prepare for other behaviors.
Do intention movements evolve into display behaviors/
Yes.
What is pre-adaption?
Modifying a previous movement or morphological structure to use in a new context of communication.
What is ritualization?
Evolutionary process whereby a signal is established or improved so that it becomes a more effective or efficient means of communication.
When does the receiver benefit?
When they are eavesdropping.
What is a contextual signaling display?
Function of signal depends on the environment in which it is released.
What is an example of a contextual signaling display?
Queen bee’s chemical signal.
What are graded displays?
There are multiple levels to the display, increasing in aggression or affiliation.
What is an example of a graded display?
Primate aggression displays.
Do females prefer more variable MHC genes when breeding?
Yes.
Do females prefer more variable MHC genes when not breeding?
No.
What does the Signal/noise ratio refer to?
Improving the effectiveness of the signal.
