Abstract
Begging displays not only must encode information on the needs of nestlings, but also must effectively convey this information to parents. We discuss some problems in transmission and reception that begging signals must overcome to successfully convey information, and suggest ways these problems may have affected the design of begging signals, particularly begging calls. Acoustic effects within nests, especially reflection of sound from nest walls, may select for begging calls that circumvent or exploit these sound effects. Similarly, acoustic interference from nestmates may select for calls that enhance locatability and discriminability. We suggest that the apparent exaggeration of begging displays may not only be a result of evolutionary conflicts of interest between parents and young, but could also be needed to convey the signal from offspring to parents.
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Horn, A.G., Leonard, M.L. (2002). Efficacy and the Design of Begging Signals. In: Wright, J., Leonard, M.L. (eds) The Evolution of Begging. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47660-6_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47660-6_7
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