BIOL 209T(F) Animal Communication (W)
Animal communication systems come in as many varieties as the species that use them. What they have in common is a sender, who encodes information into a physical signal, and a receiver, who senses the signal, extracts the information, and adjusts subsequent behavior accordingly. This tutorial will consider all aspects of communication, using different animal systems to explore different aspects of the biology of signaling. Topics will include the use of syntax to carry meaning in chickadee calls, the "piracy" of signaling system by fireflies, statements of identity, allegiance and affiliation in the form of toothed whales' signature whistles, and long-distance chemical attractants that allow male moths to find the object of their desire.
Format: tutorial. Evaluation will be based on five 5-page papers, tutorial presentations, and the student's effectiveness as a critic.
Prerequisites: Biology 101 and Biology212/Psychology212/Neuroscience201. Enrollment limit: 10 (expected:10). Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with preference to senior Neuroscience concentrators who need a Biology elective to complete the concentration.
Satisfies the distributional requirement for the Biology major.
Hour: H. WILLIAMS