Week 7 Post 1

Animal Behavior: Modes of Communication

• Different modes of communication have different characteristics that make them more or less effective for certain types of signal
• Visual communication:
• Common but diverse
• includes permanent signals and temporary signals
• Three things in common:
• Fast conveying information
• Can work over long distances
• restricted to line-of-sight
• Dependent on environment
• Can be bad or good
• Permanent is usually easy to maintain but costly to produce
• Auditory signals are fast, travels long distance
• Always temporary, requires constant energy 
• Easier to eavesdrop
• Locating source becomes harder
• Olfactory signals (smells)
• Very slow signal
• Restricted by air movements
• Useless for signals needing quick speed
• Good for persistence, can last a while
• Tactile communication
• Gestures between two individuals
• During mating
• Common in grooming