Lecture 18 Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Lecture 18 Deck (39)
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1
Q

Describe the handicap principle?

A

Zahavi states that honest signaling is supported when the costs of producing the signal are high

2
Q

Define a cue

A

A regularity or pattern that is either permanently on or is on/off depending on specific conditions

3
Q

Given an example of a cue

A

Mosquitoes fly against CO2 streams to locate mammals to bite.

4
Q

What is a signal?

A

A perceivable behavior or feature that has evolved and acquired a specific characteristic of conveying information about the signaler’s environment.

5
Q

What is an example of a signal?

A

Alarm calling–Signals presence of predators

6
Q

Describe the evolution of signals

A

There must be a link between a specific condition and the production of a cue
If the receiver gains some value from the cue, evolution may favor enhancement of the relevant links

7
Q

When is cue reception useful?

A

If the receiver has some knowledge of which conditions elicit which cues.(and can decode cues)

8
Q

The value of a cue is in its ability to _______ decisions.

A

guide

  • respond to alarm calls
  • value of potential mate
9
Q

If cues begin to provide beneficial info, then what?

A

then selection should start to favor preferences to form.

10
Q

What is response refinement?

A

Receivers will also begin to refine responses to communicated info

11
Q

When does coevolution between signaler and receiver occur?

A

If there is a fitness benefit for signaler associated with the corresponding behavior of the receiver

12
Q

If the sender receives a fitness benefit, then what?

A

Then the signal will be subsequently refined to improve the quality of information communicated.

13
Q

What is ritualization?

A

Improvement of the reliability, distortion resistance, and info content of a cue resulting in the development of a true signal.

14
Q

What are the characteristics of ritualization?

A
  • A simplification in the number of components
  • Amplification of the remaining components
  • Increased rate of presentation of the components
  • Formalized pattern to presenting the components
15
Q

Some signals aren’t very different from their source cues while others are completely _________.

A

dissociated

16
Q

A __________ _______ signal may be difficult to distinguish from a cue.

A

marginally ritualized

17
Q

What would happen if a highly ritualized signal became completely separate from the source cue?

A

It would be independent of the original factors that triggered the cue
-Emancipated cues are decoupled from the original inducing environment; new info is provided by the signal

18
Q

What bias supports the evolution of a signal?

A

Receiver perceptual bias

19
Q

Biases occur outside what?

A

Outside the context of communication

20
Q

What are perceptual biases triggered by?

A

By an aberrant or unique alteration to a cue

21
Q

When can altered cues become signals?

A

If there is a fitness benefit for the receiver

22
Q

During intention movements, the animals doesn’t have to complete the action. Why wouldn’t they have to complete the action?

A

Just by making the intention movement may be all that is needed to communicate.

23
Q

Intention movements may indicate what?

A

honest communication

Misleading information

24
Q

Intention movements allow the sender to do what?

A

create expectations in the receiver

25
Q

Preparatory phases of ________ ________ are intention movements.

A

attack displays

26
Q

What other communicative signals count as intention movements?

A

Displays that animals use to signal submission are also intention movements.

27
Q

Define antithesis.

A

Refers to the fact that display signals that indicate opposite reactions tend to take opposite forms.

28
Q

What are the components of submission signals?

A

Low, retreating, and make the individual appear smaller

29
Q

What are some examples of motivational systems in animals?

A

Hunger, thirst, aggression and fear

30
Q

Each system is based on __________, and multiple systems can experience high levels of motivation at the same time.

A

hierarchy

31
Q

Define motivational conflict

A

Sometimes the urge to do something worthy or good or pleasurable is directly opposed by the fact that it involves pain or inconvenience or hard work

32
Q

Define ambivalence behavior

A

Reflects an animal’s inability to select one motivational force over the other

33
Q

Behavior typically reflects what?

A

components of each motivational state

34
Q

What is alternation?

A

display involving intention movement from each motivational conditions

35
Q

What is blending?

A

Components from each motivational state are combined to create an intermediate form of behavior that overlaps the two conditions

36
Q

Why does the male stickleback fish perform a zig zag dance during courtship?

A

Reflects desire to fight intruder and mate with receptive females.

37
Q

What are some characteristics of motivational conflict?

A

Broadside threat displays
Conflict between aggression and retreat
Make individual appear larger

38
Q

What is displacement behavior?

A

Behaviors that seem irrelevant to the situation

• Typically of anxiety

39
Q

Define redirected behavior?

A

Expressed behavior is consistent with motivational state, but directed at the wrong object.