Communication in Living Things
Communication in living systems is normally not covered in the 10 th grade biology curriculum. Because of this, you should take the time to examine this topic. Chapter 51 – Animal Behavior is our fifth step in understanding this idea. In this outline you will find the AP Bio curriculum that is addressed in chapter
51 and some questions that will guide you so that you can begin to understand this topic.
Big Idea 3: Living systems, store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes
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Enduring Understading 3.E Transmission of information results in changes within and between biological systems o Essential Knowledge 3.E.1 Individuals can act on information and communicate it to others (51.1)
 Organisms exchange info with each other in response to internal changes and external cues, which can alter behavior
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Fight or flight response
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Predator warning
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Protection of young
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Plant-plant interaction due to herbivory
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Avoidance responses
 Communication occurs through various mechanisms
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Living systems have a variety of signal behaviors or cues that produce changes in the behavior of other organisms and can result in differential reproductive success o Herbivory response o Territorial marking o Coloration in flowers
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Animals use visual, audible, tactile, electrical and chemical signals to indicate dominance, find food, establish territory and ensure reproductive success o Bee dances o Bird songs o Territorial marking in mammals o Pack behavior in animals o Herd, flock and schooling behavior in animals o Predator warning o Colony and swarming behavior in insects o Coloration

 Responses t information and communication of info are essential and vital to natural selection and evolution
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Natural selection favors innate and learned behaviors that increase survival and reproductive success o Parent / offspring interaction o Migration patterns o Courtship and mating behaviors o Foraging in bees and other animals o Avoidance behavior to electric fences, poisons, or traps
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Cooperative behavior tends to increase fitness of the individual and the survival of the population o Pack behavior in animals o Herd, flock and schooling behavior in animals o Predator warning o Colony and swarming behavior in insects