sign stimulus

sign stimulus

sign stimulus (releaser) The essential feature of a stimulus, which is necessary to elicit a response. For example, a red belly (characteristic of courting male sticklebacks) is the sign stimulus necessary to provoke an attack from a rival male; even a very crude model fish is attacked if it has a red undersurface. Similarly, territorial fighting in male robins is triggered by the sign stimulus of a red breast; a bunch of red feathers is enough to induce territorial behaviour. See also stimulus filtering.

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"sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-signstimulus.html

"sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-signstimulus.html

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sign stimulus

sign stimulus (releaser) Part of a stimulus that is sufficient to evoke a behavioural response in an animal (e.g. the patch of red colour that provokes an aggressive reaction in Erithacus rubecula, the European robin).

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-signstimulus.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-signstimulus.html

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sign stimulus

sign stimulus(releaser) Part of a stimulus that is sufficient to evoke a behavioural response in an animal (e.g. the patch of red colour that provokes an aggressive reaction in Erithacus rubecula, the European robin).

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-signstimulus.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "sign stimulus." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-signstimulus.html

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