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Key Ideas In Animal And Human Behaviour > Animal Communication > Flashcards

Flashcards in Animal Communication Deck (12)
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0
Q

Definition of communication?

A

The process in which actors use specially designed signals or displays to modify the behaviour if reactors (kerbs and Davies 1993)

1
Q

What is communication?

A

Darwin 1872

  • the expressions of the emotions in man and animals
  • no real focus in communication of cognition
  • more on the inevitably if mind/ emotion
2
Q

Ecological constraints?

A

The communicative modality depends on ecology in ant species

3
Q

What are ecological constraints?

A
  • leptothorax spp. Fed on large dead beetles that need two ants to carry
  • go back to best and recruit another ant by regurgitation
  • lead helper to good site by tandem running
4
Q

What are reciever constraints?

A

The senses of the reciever also constrain in the evolution of the signal

5
Q

How do these behaviours become signals?

A

Through ritualisation

  • behaviour becomes highly stereotyped, repetitive, exaggerated
6
Q

What are the three hypotheses about ritualisation?

A
  1. Reduction if ambiguity
  2. Manipulation
  3. honesty
7
Q

Reduction of ambiguity

A
  • ritualised signals may be less ambiguous, greater clarity of signal
8
Q

Manipulation

A
  • signallers must benefit from signalling
  • evolutionary arms race between actor and reciever
  • signal gets louder as process goes on
9
Q

Honesty

A
  • Zahavi handicap hypothesis

- ritiualisation allows signals to become reliable signals of quality

10
Q

Can communication involved cognition?

A

Yes

11
Q

How does language differ from animal communication?

A
  • intentionality
  • complexity
  • productivity
  • social sciences view
  • forms core of human culture