BIOL 32 Animal Communication
Animals, including humans, have evolved to communicate with each other in a multitude of ways. Using examples from across the animal kingdom, this course will consider the variety of communication systems observed in nature from physical, neurobiological, and evolutionary perspectives. Comparisons will be made between animals with similar or different solutions to problems in communication, including comparisons with human examples. The course consists of four parts. Part I will look at the physics behind signal generation/transmission in different modalities and the neural basis of signal reception, part II will consider evolutionary constraints in generating, receiving and processing signals, part III will consider these principles in the main contexts of communication (mating, conflict, social situations, interspecific interactions), and part IV will integrate this information and these concepts in the context of human communication. Offered in alternate years.
Instructor
ter Hofstede