Abstract
The outstanding levels of knowledge attained today in the research on animal communication, and the new available technologies to study visual, vocal and chemical signalling, allow an ever increasing use of information theory as a sophisticated tool to improve our knowledge of the complexity of animal communication. Some considerations on the way information theory and intraspecific communication can be linked are presented here. Specifically, information theory may help us to explore interindividual variations in different environmental constraints and social scenarios, as well as the communicative features of social vs. solitary species.
Highlights
The outstanding levels of knowledge attained today in the research on animal communication, and the new available technologies to study visual, vocal and chemical signalling, allow an ever increasing use of information theory as a sophisticated tool to improve our knowledge of the complexity of animal communication
The dynamics of nonzero-sum may be considered as a kind of force that has crucially shaped the way animals communicate today [1], allowing individuals to establish some form of equilibrium among them, which may Entropy 2010, 12 determine different sorts of social communications
The complexity of animal communication, which is a direct consequence of non-zero sum logics, may have been developed because conspecifics are involved in a sort of arms race evolutionary process, in which (a) the better the communication tools, the better the fitness, (b) the more efficient the signal(s), the clearer and easier the message will be perceived by conspecifics
Summary
Non-zero refers to the concept of the non-zero-sum that originates from game theory. It attempts to capture mathematically behaviours in strategic situations, when an individual's success in making choices depends on the choices of others. In non-zero-sum games, the gain of one player does not necessarily correspond to another’s loss In this context, the dynamics of nonzero-sum may be considered as a kind of force that has crucially shaped the way animals communicate today [1], allowing individuals to establish some form of equilibrium among them, which may Entropy 2010, 12 determine different sorts of social communications. The complexity of animal communication, which is a direct consequence of non-zero sum logics, may have been developed because conspecifics are involved in a sort of arms race evolutionary process, in which (a) the better the communication tools, the better the fitness (mainly intended as the probability to reproduce), (b) the more efficient the signal(s), the clearer and easier the message will be perceived by conspecifics (e.g., a mate, subordinate individuals, members of a clan or a group). More efficient signals are supposed to improve communication under different constraints, the noise surrounding both sender and receiver being one of the most common negative factors influencing the efficacy of sending information
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