The rationale behind the grouping of chapters into this section is to facilitate comparisons between communication networks found in very different contexts: mate choice, predation, nestling begging, redirection and scent marking. One of the attractions of communication networks is that the idea applies to any context in which the signals used travel far enough to encompass several other individuals. However, each context will have distinctive features affecting the nature of the information transmitted, the signals used and their travelling power; therefore, the nature of the communication network may differ. Comparison of networks found in different contexts could, therefore, advance our understanding of the topic.

Mate choice

It is probably a fair generalization to say that in recent years the most widely considered, modelled and experimented upon context for communication has been the simplest mate choice situation, i.e. that involving a male signaller and a female receiver. However, Ken Otter and Laurene Ratcliffe point out in Ch. 7 that a communication network is a more likely context because females have access to the widely broadcast mate attraction signals of several males. This chapter discusses which traits females in a communication network use when choosing between males: both as pair mates and as extra-pair partners. It also discusses the way choice is achieved (e.g. simultaneous versus sequential assessment) and how sampling by females can be inferred from the pattern of movement through a network of signalling males.