Communication

Question 1

What is Zahavi’s handicap principle

Answer 1

If a trait is costly to produce it is likely to be honest. Only those that can pay the cost will adopt the signal

Question 2

Give an example of an honest signal

Answer 2

Frogs

The deeper the croak the larger the frog. Cannot be faked

Question 3

What are 3 problems that can be overcome with communication

Answer 3

1. Coordinating group foraging
2. Finding and securing a mate
3. Predators

Question 4

Give 3 examples of coordinating group foraging through communication

Answer 4

1. Food calls in birds - cliff swallows recruit birds to help find food. Only squeak when food has been found
2. Honey bees waggle dance - dance shows direction, distance and odour of the flower. Done by position of sun
3. Ants - place pheromones on the trail to food. Make vibrations when cutting up leaves, attracts other ants to join in

Question 5

Give 2 examples of using communication to help find and secure a mate

Answer 5

1. Birdsong - cowbirds care about length of repertoire when choosing between two other cowbirds compared with a cowbird and another species
2. Aquatic insects - water striders. Make ripples in water to attract females. Different ripples for different behaviours

Question 6

Give 2 examples of using alarm calls as deceptive communication

Answer 6

1. Meerkats - when encountering another group will use a fake predator alarm call. They do not have to fight other group
2. Antelope - when female goes to leave territory male will make fake predator alarm call to male female stay

Question 7

3 reasons signals are reliable

Answer 7

1. Common interest - e.g honeybee waggle dance
2. Index signals - sign of quality impossible to fake e.g frog croak
3. Costly signals - poor quality individuals cannot afford to produce e.g peacock tail feathers