Seismic communication

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/seismic-communication

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Not applicable to a single species; refers to a communication modality
2. What is the mechanism of transmission?Surface Rayleigh waves, bending waves, or acoustic waves coupled to a substrate
3. How do animals make these vibrations?They use special body parts or quick movements that create waves in the ground or on a web.
4. Why do animals use vibrations instead of sounds?In places where sound or sight is hard, like thick bushes or underground, vibrations can travel better and help animals warn each other or find mates.

Seismic Communication: The transmission and reception of information through mechanical vibrations propagated via a substrate.
Substrate: The physical medium (e.g., soil, plant, web) through which vibrational signals travel.
Mechanoreceptors: Sensory receptors that respond to mechanical stimuli like pressure, touch, or vibration.
Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features or traits in different species.