Chapter 8: Principles of Animal Communication (ABE2) – Animal Behavior Study Guide, Key
Concepts and Exam Review
Communication - ANS ✔✔Transfer of information from one individual to another that affects
current or future behavior/fitness of one or both individuals
Sender uses a specifically evolved signal to modify behavior of receiver
Cue - ANS ✔✔Non-intentional byproduct of other activities not shaped by natural selection to
convey information
3 types of communication - ANS ✔✔Honest signaling, Deceitful signaling, eavesdropping
Honest signaling - ANS ✔✔Both benefit (+/+)
Deceitful signaling - ANS ✔✔Sender benefits, receiver does not (+/-)
Eavesdropping - ANS ✔✔Sender is not benefitted, receiver overhears information intended for
another receiver and exploits signal (-/+, not considered communication because not
intentional)
Information in Signals - ANS ✔✔Danger, mating readiness/quality, where food is, willingness to
fight, location, sex
Bee dance example - ANS ✔✔Bee find good food source
Round dance = food is close (50m or less)
, Waggle dance = angle of dance provides direction and length provides how far food is (up to
10,000m)
COMMUNICATION example
Pre-existing trait hypothesis - ANS ✔✔Signals evolved from trait that had some information and
then was modified for communication through ritualization
Ritualization - ANS ✔✔Evolutionary process by which a behavior pattern loses original function
but is retained for its role in communication (so originated in context other than
communication)
Pre-existing bias hypothesis - ANS ✔✔Signals evolved through receivers' pre-existing biases in
their sensory system
Sensory exploitation - ANS ✔✔Bias in the sensory system to detect certain features better than
others and sender's signal exploits bias to elicit a response
Water mites example - ANS ✔✔Male mite lays down sperm in front of female and makes
vibration in water in front of her
She is already used to using vibrations to grab prey
Male making vibrations makes her grab sperm instead
Example of EVOLUTION OF SIGNALS, SENSORY EXPLOITATION?, and PRE-EXISTING BIAS
HYPOTHESIS?
Concepts and Exam Review
Communication - ANS ✔✔Transfer of information from one individual to another that affects
current or future behavior/fitness of one or both individuals
Sender uses a specifically evolved signal to modify behavior of receiver
Cue - ANS ✔✔Non-intentional byproduct of other activities not shaped by natural selection to
convey information
3 types of communication - ANS ✔✔Honest signaling, Deceitful signaling, eavesdropping
Honest signaling - ANS ✔✔Both benefit (+/+)
Deceitful signaling - ANS ✔✔Sender benefits, receiver does not (+/-)
Eavesdropping - ANS ✔✔Sender is not benefitted, receiver overhears information intended for
another receiver and exploits signal (-/+, not considered communication because not
intentional)
Information in Signals - ANS ✔✔Danger, mating readiness/quality, where food is, willingness to
fight, location, sex
Bee dance example - ANS ✔✔Bee find good food source
Round dance = food is close (50m or less)
, Waggle dance = angle of dance provides direction and length provides how far food is (up to
10,000m)
COMMUNICATION example
Pre-existing trait hypothesis - ANS ✔✔Signals evolved from trait that had some information and
then was modified for communication through ritualization
Ritualization - ANS ✔✔Evolutionary process by which a behavior pattern loses original function
but is retained for its role in communication (so originated in context other than
communication)
Pre-existing bias hypothesis - ANS ✔✔Signals evolved through receivers' pre-existing biases in
their sensory system
Sensory exploitation - ANS ✔✔Bias in the sensory system to detect certain features better than
others and sender's signal exploits bias to elicit a response
Water mites example - ANS ✔✔Male mite lays down sperm in front of female and makes
vibration in water in front of her
She is already used to using vibrations to grab prey
Male making vibrations makes her grab sperm instead
Example of EVOLUTION OF SIGNALS, SENSORY EXPLOITATION?, and PRE-EXISTING BIAS
HYPOTHESIS?
