Animal SignalsWhy are most animal signals reliable? This is the central problem for evolutionary biologists interested in signals. A number of theoretical answers have been proposed and empirical studies made, but a considerable amount of confusion still remains. The authors, one a theoretician the other a fieldworker, introduce a sense of order to this chaos. They disentangle the complex and often confusing terminology that characterises the subject, and then challenge the widely held assumption that there is only one correct explanation for signal reliability. The authors argue that the reliability of signals is maintained in several ways, relevant in different circumstances, and that biologists must learn to distinguish between them. In this book they explain the different theories, give examples of signalling systems to which one or another theory applies, and point to the many areas where further work, both theoretical and empirical, is required. |
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Agelenopsis aperta aggression alarm calls alter Animal Behaviour animal signals assessment asymmetry badges of status benefit birds chick cichlid claw colour contests conventional signals cost-free signals costly signals courtship dance Dawkins described discussed display Ecology Enquist escalated fight evidence evolution evolutionary evolved exaggerated example explanation female preference fighting ability fish genes genetic give Grafen grunts handicap principle House Sparrows human indices individuals innate interactions intruder Krebs larynx males Maynard Smith minimal-cost signals monkeys musth mutant opponent outcome owner parasite possible predator prey primates protolanguage punishment Red Deer relative reliable requires resource response Rhesus Macaques ritualized roaring Section sensory bias settle sexual selection signaller and receiver signalling equilibrium social Society of London song Sparrows species spiders stags stalk-eyed fly stotting strategic costs strategy suggested territory Thomson's Gazelles Tits trait vary Vervet Monkeys Vervets White-crowned Sparrows Zahavi