Chapter 6: Animal Communication – Animal Behavior Study Guide, Key Concepts and
Communication Systems Review
communication - ✔✔the process in which a specialized signal produced by one individual
(signaler) affects the behavior of another individual (receiver)
signal - ✔✔an evolved trait that is selected for its effect on the behavior of a receiver
firefly flashes
chemical pheromones
electrical discharges
morphological traits
substrate-borne vibrations
behavioral displays
vocalizations
waggle dance - ✔✔a behavior performed by a honeybee scout that recruits workers to a food
source
conveys *distance* and *direction* of a food source to conspecifics
bees also use *odor* to find the exact location of the food
alarm call - ✔✔a unique vocalization produced by social animals when a predator is nearby
aposematic coloration - ✔✔brightly colored morphology in a species that stands out from the
environment and is associated with noxious chemicals or poisons that make individuals
unpalatable or dangerous prey
, -coral snake
-poison dart frog
-cinnabar moth caterpillar
mimicry - ✔✔the adaptive resemblance of one species to another
signals do not indicate signaler's actual phenotype
mimic model species
batesian mimicry - ✔✔the resemblance of a palatable mimic to an unpalatable model that
predators have learned to avoid
the palatable yellow-eyed salamander resembles a toxic newt; birds learn to avoid both the
mimic and model species
aggressive mimicry - ✔✔a situation in which a predator mimics a nonthreatening model so
that it can get closer to its prey
cleaner fish - ✔✔fish that feed on ectoparasites and the dead skin of other fish
sexual deception hypothesis - ✔✔the hypothesis that males will produce deceptive signals to
females in order to enhance their own reproduction
extended phenotype signal - ✔✔a signal expressed beyond the body of an individual that
often includes modification of the environment
costly to build and maintain, so are often reliable indicators of phenotype of the signaler
Communication Systems Review
communication - ✔✔the process in which a specialized signal produced by one individual
(signaler) affects the behavior of another individual (receiver)
signal - ✔✔an evolved trait that is selected for its effect on the behavior of a receiver
firefly flashes
chemical pheromones
electrical discharges
morphological traits
substrate-borne vibrations
behavioral displays
vocalizations
waggle dance - ✔✔a behavior performed by a honeybee scout that recruits workers to a food
source
conveys *distance* and *direction* of a food source to conspecifics
bees also use *odor* to find the exact location of the food
alarm call - ✔✔a unique vocalization produced by social animals when a predator is nearby
aposematic coloration - ✔✔brightly colored morphology in a species that stands out from the
environment and is associated with noxious chemicals or poisons that make individuals
unpalatable or dangerous prey
, -coral snake
-poison dart frog
-cinnabar moth caterpillar
mimicry - ✔✔the adaptive resemblance of one species to another
signals do not indicate signaler's actual phenotype
mimic model species
batesian mimicry - ✔✔the resemblance of a palatable mimic to an unpalatable model that
predators have learned to avoid
the palatable yellow-eyed salamander resembles a toxic newt; birds learn to avoid both the
mimic and model species
aggressive mimicry - ✔✔a situation in which a predator mimics a nonthreatening model so
that it can get closer to its prey
cleaner fish - ✔✔fish that feed on ectoparasites and the dead skin of other fish
sexual deception hypothesis - ✔✔the hypothesis that males will produce deceptive signals to
females in order to enhance their own reproduction
extended phenotype signal - ✔✔a signal expressed beyond the body of an individual that
often includes modification of the environment
costly to build and maintain, so are often reliable indicators of phenotype of the signaler
