1. The Social Use of Space 



49 



signal by one individual elicits a similar response by the perceiver. However, 

 if this is so, and if each individual after emitting a burst of sequential 

 signals enters a refractory period (see Section XIII, A) of some given 

 mean length before it can emit signals again, then we have a situation in 

 which there occur recurrent periods during which most nonsleeping in- 

 dividuals in the community emit signals nearly simultaneously. Although 

 no proof of the validity of this assumption can be offered at present, my 

 formulation will accept the existence of such a process. Such an assumption 

 is inherent in the utilization of P'ig. 22 in arriving at some insight as to the 



2.0 



1.0 



0.3 >— 



/.5ff- 



0.6 1.2 1.8 2.4 



o- DISTANCE FROM ANY H.R.C. 



3.0 



Fig. 22. Signal field produced by neighbors. If all neighbors emit signals simul- 

 taneously at their home range centers, and these signals have the properties shown in 

 Fig. IS, then their summated intensity will form a "topography" as here shown with 

 reference to any particular animal moving through its home range. The value 1.0 repre- 

 sents the intensity of a .signal at the point of emission. 



influence of the signal field on determination of an optimum interval be- 

 tween home range centers. 



As with the sign field of neighbors, the signal field of neighbors is pre- 

 sumed to influence interval between home range centers through the mem- 

 bers of the community seeking that interval between home range centers 

 which will ensure most closely attainment of both constancy of the signal 

 field, leading to predictability and to approximation of the standard signal 

 intensity. Judging by the three curves in Fig. 22, operation of these two 

 criteria indicates an optimum interval between home range centers slightly 

 less than 2.1 sigma. 



