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Propositional objects > Communication systems > Animal communication systems > Acoustic animal communication systems

Preferred term

2252Acoustic animal communication systems  

Broader concept

Scope note

  • Acoustic communication is exceedingly common in nature, possibly because sound can be adapted to a wide variety of environmental conditions and behavioral situations. Sounds can vary substantially in amplitude, duration, and frequency structure, all of which impact how far the sound will travel in the environment and how easily the receiver can localise the position of the sender. For example, many passerine birds emit pure-tone alarm calls that make localisation difficult, while the same species produce more complex, broadband mate attraction songs that allow conspecifics to easily find the sender. A particularly specialised form of acoustic communication is seen in microchiropteran bats and cetaceans that use high-frequency sounds to detect and localise prey. After sound emission, the returning echo is detected and processed, ultimately allowing the animal to build a picture of their surrounding environment and make very accurate assessments of prey location.

Source

  • Gilliam 2011
  • Marler 1955
  • Smith 1972

Contributor

  • Katsiadakis Helen (AA)

Creator

  • Karasimos Athanasios (AA)

Notation

  • 2252

In other languages

URI

https://humanitiesthesaurus.academyofathens.gr/dyas-resource/Concept/2252

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