Lecture 7- Communication in mammals Flashcards
What is the function of communication?
Convey information from one individual to another
What does communication require?
A sender
A receiver
A signal that conveys information
What types of information can be conveyed within species?
Sex Sexual condition Territory ownership Group membership Social status Motivational state
What type of information can be conveyed between species?
Predator detection
Physical condition
What are the four forms of communication?
Tactile
Visual
Acoustic
Chemical
What do the four forms of communication differ with respect to?
Distance and orientation between sender and receiver
Time span
Information conveyed
Impact of physical environment
In tactile communication the sender-receiver need to be….?
In direct contact
In tactile communication the time span tends to be..?
Short duration
What is the information conveyed in tactile communication?
Mother-offspring
Sexual
Amicable behaviours
Aggressive behaviours
What is the impact of environment in tactile communication?
Minimal
What are the important sensory organs in tactile communication?
Touch and heat receptors all over body
In visual communication the sender-receiver need to be..?
In direct line of sight
Time span of visual communication?
Can be short duration - facial expressions
Mid duration- sexual condition
Long duration - dominance status
What is the information conveyed by visual communication?
Sexual Social Motivation state Warning signals Mate quality Signals to predators
Impact of environment on visual communication?
Totally dependent upon physical properties of light
Limited use for: nocturnal species, subterranean species, species in cluttered environments
In auditory communication the sender-receiver…?
Do not need to be direct sight
What is the time span for auditory communication?
Tends to be short lasting (ephermeral)
What is the information conveyed by auditory communication?
Territory ownership
Contact calls
Warning calls
What is the impact of the environment on auditory communication?
Affects how sound attenuates with distance and how it is disrupted (long distance = low pitch)
In chemical communication the sender-receiver…?
Do not need to be in direct line of sight, can be close contact or long range
What is the time span for chemical communication?
Can be ephemeral but tend to be mid to long duration
Odours are detected by cells located where?
On turbinal bones in the nasal cavity
Receptor cells end in what?
Ciliated olfactory knob
What are cilia used to detect?
Odouriferous compounds
What do some mammals possess on the roof of their mouth?
Jacobson’s
What are the two types of gland?
Apocrine (sweat)
Holocrine (sebaceous)
