Lecture 18

Question 1

Describe the handicap principle?

Answer 1

Zahavi states that honest signaling is supported when the costs of producing the signal are high

Question 2

Define a cue

Answer 2

A regularity or pattern that is either permanently on or is on/off depending on specific conditions

Question 3

Given an example of a cue

Answer 3

Mosquitoes fly against CO2 streams to locate mammals to bite.

Question 4

What is a signal?

Answer 4

A perceivable behavior or feature that has evolved and acquired a specific characteristic of conveying information about the signaler’s environment.

Question 5

What is an example of a signal?

Answer 5

Alarm calling–Signals presence of predators

Question 6

Describe the evolution of signals

Answer 6

There must be a link between a specific condition and the production of a cue
If the receiver gains some value from the cue, evolution may favor enhancement of the relevant links

Question 7

When is cue reception useful?

Answer 7

If the receiver has some knowledge of which conditions elicit which cues.(and can decode cues)

Question 8

The value of a cue is in its ability to _______ decisions.

Answer 8

guide

• respond to alarm calls
• value of potential mate

Question 9

If cues begin to provide beneficial info, then what?

Answer 9

then selection should start to favor preferences to form.

Question 10

What is response refinement?

Answer 10

Receivers will also begin to refine responses to communicated info

Question 11

When does coevolution between signaler and receiver occur?

Answer 11

If there is a fitness benefit for signaler associated with the corresponding behavior of the receiver

Question 12

If the sender receives a fitness benefit, then what?

Answer 12

Then the signal will be subsequently refined to improve the quality of information communicated.

Question 13

What is ritualization?

Answer 13

Improvement of the reliability, distortion resistance, and info content of a cue resulting in the development of a true signal.

Question 14

What are the characteristics of ritualization?

Answer 14

• A simplification in the number of components
• Amplification of the remaining components
• Increased rate of presentation of the components
• Formalized pattern to presenting the components

Question 15

Some signals aren’t very different from their source cues while others are completely _________.

Answer 15

dissociated

Question 16

A __________ _______ signal may be difficult to distinguish from a cue.

Answer 16

marginally ritualized

Question 17

What would happen if a highly ritualized signal became completely separate from the source cue?

Answer 17

It would be independent of the original factors that triggered the cue
-Emancipated cues are decoupled from the original inducing environment; new info is provided by the signal

Question 18

What bias supports the evolution of a signal?

Answer 18

Receiver perceptual bias

Question 19

Biases occur outside what?

Answer 19

Outside the context of communication

Question 20

What are perceptual biases triggered by?

Answer 20

By an aberrant or unique alteration to a cue

Question 21

When can altered cues become signals?

Answer 21

If there is a fitness benefit for the receiver

Question 22

During intention movements, the animals doesn’t have to complete the action. Why wouldn’t they have to complete the action?

Answer 22

Just by making the intention movement may be all that is needed to communicate.

Question 23

Intention movements may indicate what?

Answer 23

honest communication

Misleading information

Question 24

Intention movements allow the sender to do what?

Answer 24

create expectations in the receiver

Question 25

Preparatory phases of ________ ________ are intention movements.

Answer 25

attack displays

Question 26

What other communicative signals count as intention movements?

Answer 26

Displays that animals use to signal submission are also intention movements.

Question 27

Define antithesis.

Answer 27

Refers to the fact that display signals that indicate opposite reactions tend to take opposite forms.

Question 28

What are the components of submission signals?

Answer 28

Low, retreating, and make the individual appear smaller

Question 29

What are some examples of motivational systems in animals?

Answer 29

Hunger, thirst, aggression and fear

Question 30

Each system is based on __________, and multiple systems can experience high levels of motivation at the same time.

Answer 30

hierarchy

Question 31

Define motivational conflict

Answer 31

Sometimes the urge to do something worthy or good or pleasurable is directly opposed by the fact that it involves pain or inconvenience or hard work

Question 32

Define ambivalence behavior

Answer 32

Reflects an animal’s inability to select one motivational force over the other

Question 33

Behavior typically reflects what?

Answer 33

components of each motivational state

Question 34

What is alternation?

Answer 34

display involving intention movement from each motivational conditions

Question 35

What is blending?

Answer 35

Components from each motivational state are combined to create an intermediate form of behavior that overlaps the two conditions

Question 36

Why does the male stickleback fish perform a zig zag dance during courtship?

Answer 36

Reflects desire to fight intruder and mate with receptive females.

Question 37

What are some characteristics of motivational conflict?

Answer 37

Broadside threat displays
Conflict between aggression and retreat
Make individual appear larger

Question 38

What is displacement behavior?

Answer 38

Behaviors that seem irrelevant to the situation

• Typically of anxiety

Question 39

Define redirected behavior?

Answer 39

Expressed behavior is consistent with motivational state, but directed at the wrong object.