Biology: Animal Communication and Signals
How animals send, receive, and respond to information
Biology: Animal Communication and Signals
How animals send, receive, and respond to information
Biology - Grade 6-8
- 1
A male cricket chirps loudly at night. A female cricket of the same species moves toward the sound. What is the signal, what is the receiver, and what is the likely message?
A signal is the information being sent, and a receiver is the animal that detects it.
The signal is the cricket's chirping sound. The receiver is the female cricket. The likely message is that a male cricket is nearby and ready to mate. - 2
Classify each example as visual, chemical, sound, or touch communication: a skunk sprays a strong odor, a firefly flashes its light, a wolf howls, and monkeys groom each other.
A skunk spraying a strong odor is chemical communication. A firefly flashing its light is visual communication. A wolf howling is sound communication. Monkeys grooming each other is touch communication. - 3
Honeybees perform a waggle dance to show other bees where food is located. Explain why this behavior is an example of communication.
Communication happens when a signal changes the behavior or knowledge of another animal.
The waggle dance is communication because one bee sends information about food location, and other bees receive the information and can use it to find the food. - 4
Some moths release pheromones to attract mates from far away. What are pheromones, and why can they be useful for animals that are active at night?
Think about which senses work well in darkness.
Pheromones are chemical signals released by an animal that affect the behavior of other animals of the same species. They are useful at night because chemical signals can travel in the air even when it is too dark to see visual signals clearly. - 5
A rabbit thumps its back foot on the ground when it sees a fox. Other rabbits nearby run to their burrows. What is the function of the rabbit's thumping signal?
The function of the rabbit's thumping signal is to warn other rabbits about danger. It helps the group respond quickly and increases their chance of survival. - 6
A male peacock spreads its bright tail feathers when a female is nearby. What type of signal is this, and what is one possible cost of using this signal?
Many signals help animals, but they can also have risks.
This is a visual signal. One possible cost is that the bright tail may make the peacock easier for predators to see, or it may take a lot of energy to grow and carry. - 7
Dolphins use clicks and whistles underwater. Why might sound be an effective form of communication in the ocean?
Sound is effective in the ocean because it can travel through water over long distances. This allows dolphins to communicate even when they cannot see each other clearly. - 8
Two dogs meet. One dog lowers its body, wags its tail loosely, and bows with its front legs. What message is the dog likely sending, and what evidence supports your answer?
Body posture can be a visual signal.
The dog is likely sending a playful or friendly message. The loose tail wag and play bow are behaviors many dogs use to invite another dog to play. - 9
Explain the difference between a signal and a response in animal communication. Use an example in your answer.
A signal is the information sent by one animal, while a response is the action or behavior of the animal that receives the signal. For example, a bird gives an alarm call, and other birds fly into a tree for safety. - 10
Some birds sing mostly during breeding season. Give two reasons a bird song might help the bird reproduce.
Think about mates, territory, and resources.
A bird song might help attract a mate and show that the bird is healthy or strong. It might also help defend a territory so the bird has space and resources for nesting. - 11
Ants often leave scent trails between a food source and the nest. If the food is removed, the trail slowly disappears. Predict what will happen to the number of ants following the trail over time, and explain why.
Chemical signals can become weaker as they spread out or break down.
The number of ants following the trail will likely decrease over time. The scent trail will fade, and fewer ants will receive the chemical signal that leads them to the food. - 12
A frog species has a unique call that helps females find males of the same species. Why is it important that the call is different from the calls of other frog species?
It is important because the unique call helps females identify mates from their own species. This reduces confusion and increases the chance of successful reproduction. - 13
A scientist observes meerkats giving different alarm calls for eagles, snakes, and jackals. Why might having different alarm calls be more useful than having only one general alarm call?
Different threats may require different survival actions.
Different alarm calls can tell the group what type of predator is present. This helps meerkats choose the best response, such as looking up for an eagle, watching the ground for a snake, or running from a jackal. - 14
Some animals use warning colors, such as bright red, yellow, or orange, to show predators that they are poisonous or bad-tasting. Is this communication? Explain your answer.
Yes, this can be communication because the bright color is a visual signal that sends information to predators. The predator may respond by avoiding the animal. - 15
Choose one animal communication signal and explain how natural selection could favor animals that use or understand that signal well.
Connect the signal to survival or reproduction.
Natural selection could favor rabbits that notice warning thumps quickly because they are more likely to escape predators and survive. If they survive and reproduce, traits that help them respond to warning signals may become more common in the population.