Communication

Question 1

What is dishonest signaling?

Answer 1

Sender may benefit at the expense of the receiver.

Question 2

What is Betesian mimicry?

Answer 2

Mimicking warning coloration, but not toxic.

Question 3

Why do Ravens “yell”?

Answer 3

They gang up on the territorial residents.

Question 4

What is the Zahavi’s Handicap principal?

Answer 4

Honest signaling can evolve when traits are very costly to fake.

Question 5

What is meta-communication?

Answer 5

One signal defines the meaning of those signals that follow.

Question 6

What is an example of meta-communication?

Answer 6

A dog’s play bow.

Question 7

What are the benefits of visual messages? (2)

Answer 7

1. Easy to locate sender. 2. Travels fast.

Question 8

What are the negatives of visual messages? (3)

Answer 8

1. 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.

Question 9

What are the benefits of auditory signals? (5)

Answer 9

1. 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.

Question 10

What is the negative of auditory signals?

Answer 10

They do not last a long time.

Question 11

What are the benefits of low volatile signals? (3)

Answer 11

1. 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.

Question 12

What are low volatile signals used for? (2)

Answer 12

1. To mark boundaries. 2. Detect females reproductive state.

Question 13

What are the negatives of low volatile signals? (3)

Answer 13

1. Short distance communication. 2. Difficult to modulate signal. 3. Difficult to locate the sender.

Question 14

What are the benefits of high volatile signals? (2)

Answer 14

1. Lasts for a short time. 2. Goes around barriers.

Question 15

What is the negative of high volatile signals?

Answer 15

Difficult to modulate the signal.

Question 16

What are high volatile signals used for?

Answer 16

Alarm calls.

Question 17

What is intention movement?

Answer 17

Behavior patterns that precede or prepare for other behaviors.

Question 18

Do intention movements evolve into display behaviors/

Answer 18

Yes.

Question 19

What is pre-adaption?

Answer 19

Modifying a previous movement or morphological structure to use in a new context of communication.

Question 20

What is ritualization?

Answer 20

Evolutionary process whereby a signal is established or improved so that it becomes a more effective or efficient means of communication.

Question 21

When does the receiver benefit?

Answer 21

When they are eavesdropping.

Question 22

What is a contextual signaling display?

Answer 22

Function of signal depends on the environment in which it is released.

Question 23

What is an example of a contextual signaling display?

Answer 23

Queen bee’s chemical signal.

Question 24

What are graded displays?

Answer 24

There are multiple levels to the display, increasing in aggression or affiliation.

Question 25

What is an example of a graded display?

Answer 25

Primate aggression displays.

Question 26

Do females prefer more variable MHC genes when breeding?

Answer 26

Yes.

Question 27

Do females prefer more variable MHC genes when not breeding?

Answer 27

No.

Question 28

What does the Signal/noise ratio refer to?

Answer 28

Improving the effectiveness of the signal.