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Noise in Chemical Communication

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Animal Communication and Noise

Part of the book series: Animal Signals and Communication ((ANISIGCOM,volume 2))

Abstract

Chemical communication is ubiquitous. It is not only employed in inter-individual communication, but also used to transfer information within individuals, from cell to cell and from one organ to another within a body with a complicated network of hormones and neurotransmitters. However, how noise affects chemical communication has been largely neglected. Here, we review possible sources of noise and the effects noise has on the behaviour of receivers. We will also discuss variation in chemical cues and signals that may provide information in some contexts, but obscure messages in others. Finally, we attempt to identify strategies that senders and receivers can follow to either reduce the occurrence or mitigate the effects of noise.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Marc Weissburg for the photograph of the underwater odour plume visualised with dye and Rob Beynon for the Darcin ribbon graphic. We also thank Jan Benda, Henrik Brumm and an anonymous referee for their helpful comments on drafts of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Freiburg, Biology I, Hauptstrasse 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Volker Nehring

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK

    Tristram D. Wyatt

  3. Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, University of Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France

    Patrizia d’Ettorre

Authors
  1. Volker Nehring
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  2. Tristram D. Wyatt
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  3. Patrizia d’Ettorre
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Volker Nehring .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Communication and Social Behaviour Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany

    Henrik Brumm

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Nehring, V., Wyatt, T.D., d’Ettorre, P. (2013). Noise in Chemical Communication. In: Brumm, H. (eds) Animal Communication and Noise. Animal Signals and Communication, vol 2. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41494-7_13

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