Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi!
I am conducting a research on animal communication. Please answer the following questions:

1. How does animal communication evolve?
2. If communication requires a sender and a receiver how possible will two animals accidentally share the same information?
3. Does the signalling of animals indicate that they have emotions?
4. How does the behaviour of males competing for mates and females choosing among the males evolve?
5. Why successful reproduction depend on appropriate signals and responses?

Thank you very much.

Hi Dawn,

Your topic is very broad, and the questions you posted above cover a wide range of study involved with animal communication. Each question is a different "topic" on its own--the breadth of knowledge each question requires resembles that required of a graduate-level project. Is it possible for you to narrow down your research to one of your aforementioned questions?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_com ... munication has a nice, brief section on the evolution of animal signaling; if a certain scientists' theory captures your interest, you could work from there.

I would advise you to come up with a specific, research-oriented question (such as "how does the mating behavior of Mallards in California differ/coincide with those of Mallards in Oregon?") that will give you ample subject matter to center a very well-developed project around--but also specific enough that the amount of research doesn't overwhelm you.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to post back or PM me.
Best,
Ktsshao