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Animal Communication > Lecture 14 > Flashcards

Lecture 14 Flashcards

1
Q

Some birds have learnt to successfully mimic the alarm calls of multiple species. What is the benefit of this?

A

These alarm calls are given to
convince a potential predator
that a larger predator is near
(a threat to both species)

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2
Q

All organisms can generate visual images passively. How?

A

Light reflects off their bodies.

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3
Q

How can organisms increase their visibility?

A

increasing contrast
between themselves and their background, moving, or generating
one’s own light signal

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4
Q

__________ _______ from the visible range of the spectrum of EM radiation.

A

radiant energy

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5
Q

What are some sources of light?

A

Sun/moon
Burning objects
Biolumenescent

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6
Q

Light travels in ________.

A

waves

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7
Q

Light obeys the inverse square law. What is that?

A

(intensity decreases with distance from a point source as the inverse function of the distance squared)
• Decreases in intensity equal the square of the distance from the source to the perceiver

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8
Q

Light travels best in a _________.

A

vacuum

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9
Q

Define diffraction.

A

– light waves bend
and spread out as they travel
through a narrow aperture

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10
Q

When would diffraction effects be pronounced?

A

when the
propagating wavelength is
similar in size to the
diffracting object

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11
Q

Define refraction?

A 
change in
direction of a wave due to a
change in its speed, most
commonly observed when a
wave passes fro one medium
to another
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12
Q

Define reflection.

A

the change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two different media so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it originated.

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13
Q

Define absorption?

A

optical energy is
lost (absorbed) as it travels
through the medium

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14
Q

Define brightness?

A

refers to a signal’s overall intensity
Function of both the range of wavelengths reflected and the surface
structure of the object or signaling organism

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15
Q

_______ surface will produce higher intensity signal

A

Smooth

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16
Q

Brightness of self generated signals depends on the…?

A

amount of energy used to produce the signal.

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17
Q

Define spectral composition?

A 
the
color of a light signal 
Hue (dominant wavelength)
• Chroma (saturation or purity of
dominant frequency)
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18
Q

Reflected and self-generated
light signals may be
characterized by their _______.

A

color

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19
Q

Describe spatial characteristics?

A

Visual acuity of the receiver
impact the details and
localizability of the sender

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20
Q

Define temporal variability?

A

timing changes in intensity, color, and
spatial characteristics
• Used to generate a wide variety of signals

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21
Q

What are some typical components of visual displays?

A

Complex patterns of changes
in size, shape, color, flashing,
and limb movements

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22
Q

__________ between an object
of interest and the object’s
background determines the
conspicuousness of the object

A

contrast

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23
Q

How can contrast be achieved?

A

Contrast can be achieved with
any one or more of these light
signal characteristics

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24
Q

What is camouflage?

A

color or shape of an animal is similar to the background.

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25
What is mimesis?
mimics another plant or animal for camouflage.
26
What is an aposematic signal?
warning signals associated with the | unpalatability of a prey animal to potential predators
27
What is batesian mimicry?
one species has evolved to mimic the warning signals of another species directed at a common predator; mimic is palatable while model is poisonous or noxious • E.g., Moarch and Viceroy butterflies •
28
What is mullerian mimicry?
convergence between two or more species to warn predators of their unpalatability; both species are poisonous or noxious • E.g., cuckoo bee and yellow jacket
29
What is an example of batesian mimicry?
The filefish mimics the coloring of the unpalatable puffer fish
30
What is an example of mullerian mimicry?
Unpalatable caterpillars mimic stinging wasps and coral snakes.
31
Optical communication relies on?
Specializations of the sender • Body structures modified to generate or reflect light for the purpose of communication • Specializations of the receiver • Visual system is designed to pick up electromagnetic radiation • Adaptation to the channel • Properties of the signal are selected to maximize the likelihood of unambiguous reception
32
For a reflecting surface to appear colored it must selectively...?
reflect certain wavelengths of light more than others • Reflecting all wavelengths equally = white • Absorbing all wavelengths equally = black
33
Curves with _____ peak over a _______ wavelength range are highly saturated.
high, narrow | broader curves are less saturated
34
Area under the curve is a measure of what?
brightness
35
_______ animals generally perceive a wider range of colors.
Diurnal
36
Color is produced through 3 different mechanisms:
* Pigments * Thin-layer interference * Scattering
37
What are pigments?
chemical compounds whose molecules absorb certain | wavelengths of light and transmit the remaining wavelengths
38
Long-pass filters allow only _______ wavelengths to pass
longer
39
How is the color red produced? Yellow?
Red is produced by allowing all wavelengths above 600 nm to pass • Yellow is produced by allowing all wavelengths above 500 nm to pass
40
_______ ______ filters allow only short wavelengths to pass.
Short pass
41
_________ only allow wavelengths below 450 nm to pass.
Violet
42
What does color combination result in? Give an example.
additive color mixing • Purple is not a spectral color but results form filters that block mid-range wavelengths (green) and allow red (long) and blue (short) wavelengths to pass
43
What are the 3 types of pigments?
Carotenoids – produced by plants and acquired by eating plants or by eating something that has eaten plants • Typically produce red, orange, yellow • Porphyrins – modified amino acids all fluoresce under ultraviolet light • Typically produce pink, browns, reds, and greens • Melanin – tiny granules of color found in feathers and skin; provide structural support as well as coloring • Typically produce darkest black, reddish browns, pale yellow
44
What are conjugated double bonds?
Pigments are organic compounds that contain long chains of conjugated double bonds. They are carbon atoms joined by alternating single and double bonds.
45
What is carotene?
18-carbon chain that absorbs longer wavelength and transmits green, yellow, and red to appear yellow or orange Carotenoids bound to proteins absorb green but transmit violet and red – appear purple
46
What are Pterins?
nitrogenous rings that produce white, yellow and red colors often found in butterfly wings
47
What is a Quinone?
Represent a class of organic compounds that are formally "derived from aromatic compounds
48
What is a Verdins?
produce blue-green | color often found in bird’s eggs
49
What are porphyrins?
verdin molecule with the ends connected into a ring around a central metal ion; color is dependent on the type of metal
50
Most animals place _____ in the center.
iron. | Hemoglobin: red (chicken comb)
51
Plants place _________ in the center.
magnesium | chlorophyll: green
52
Turacos place _______ in the center
copper
53
Describe melanin?
dark-colored pigments found in a wide variety of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants • Large protein molecule that absorbs most or all visible wavelengths to produce brown or black
54
Define guanine?
forms microcrystalline deposits (platelets) that reflect all wavelengths • Dense packing of guanine crystals causes specular reflectance • Silvery appearance of fish scales
55
What must pigments be coupled with?
Reflective structures
56
Where are pigments located.
outer epidermal or derman llayers of skin.
57
What are chromatosomes?
small granules or packets that contain | pigments; found in chromatophores
58
What are chromatophores?
pigment-containing and light-reflecting cells, or groups of cells, found in a wide range of animals including amphibians
59
What happens to light when it travels through pigment?
undergoes the first round of absorption/reflection • Light waves that are reflected back out will undergo a second round of absorption/reflection through the pigments
60
What are Iridosomes?
``` contain guanine platelets that reflect all wavelengths of light (act like a mirror) ```
61
___________ is responsible for producing iridescent coloring.
Interference
62
• White light hits the surface at an angle and is partially _______
reflected
63
Some light enters the wax/covering and is _______, then _______ by the boundary at the bottom wax layer, and _________ again as it exits the layer
refracted, reflected, refracted
64
In birds, why do some appear to be very shimmery and color changing?
``` Primary and secondary reflections will be in phase for certain colors and out of phase for others resulting in the appearance of very shimmery changing colors ```
65
What are iridescent feathers?
``` – iridescent coloring is produced by the structure of the feathers (Interference) • … • Damage to feather structure results in decrease of iridescence ```
66
• Small particles with a different________ ______ from the general medium can cause some wavelengths to scatter
refractive index
67
What causes light scattering in animals.?
Animal’s surface is coated with transparent material that contains a matrix of tiny dense particles considerably smaller than 300 nm in diameter • Underneath this surface is a layer of melanin
68
Tiny air pockets in the bards of feathers causes what?
scattering of incoming light, resulting in a specific non iridescent color. Blue is always produced in this manner.
69
Placing a thin yellow carotenoid layer above this arrangement, violet and blue wavelengths are absorbed and _______ is the only wavelength scattered
green
70
How is white coloring made?
produced by scattering particles that are larger than wavelengths of light (resulting in multiple wavelengths being reflected = white)
71
T/F: Pigment, scattering and interference produced coloring cannot be changed quickly
True
72
What is the purpose of badges?
used to communicate | information and are very noticeable
73
Define badges.
``` morphological specializations used as visual signals • Bright patches of skin, fur, feathers • Horns, casques, or crests ```

Animal Communication (23 decks)

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