Sensory ecology
Encyclopedia
Sensory ecology is a relatively new field focusing on the information
organisms obtain about their environment. It includes questions of what information is obtained, how it is obtained (the mechanism
), and why the information is useful to the organism (the function
).
All individual organisms interact with their environment (consisting of both animate and inanimate components), and exchange materials, energy, and sensory
information. Ecology
has generally focused on the exchanges of matter and energy, while sensory interactions have generally been studied as influences on behavior and functions of certain physiological systems (sense organs). The relatively new area of sensory ecology has emerged as more researchers focus on questions concerning information in the environment. Most often, what kinds of useful information are available and what information does an organism obtain?
This new focus emphasizes a distinction between matter/energy that can make things happen (like applying forces to move objects or doing work in the sense of thermodynamics
) and matter/energy that lead to significant changes only after their effects are amplified (e.g. by electronic amplifier
s, sensory system
s, or physiological effectors). The former influences constitute causal inputs from the environment to the organism, while the latter constitute informational or sensory inputs to the organism.
For example, light may play a causal role by providing energy to heat an organism, energy for photosynthesis, or (especially in the case of ultraviolet light) cause damage to tissues. In addition, organisms with appropriate sensory systems can respond to light in many other ways, employing it as a source of information. In most cases, sensory systems are so proficient that organisms respond to much lower intensities than are required for significant causal effects, and there is a clear distinction between inputs carrying information and those having causal effects.
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
organisms obtain about their environment. It includes questions of what information is obtained, how it is obtained (the mechanism
Mechanism (biology)
In biology --and in science in general-- a mechanism is a complex object or, more generally, a process that produces a regular phenomenon. For example, natural selection is one of the mechanisms of biological evolution, other being genetic drift, biased mutation, and gene flow; competition,...
), and why the information is useful to the organism (the function
Function (biology)
A function is part of an answer to a question about why some object or process occurred in a system that evolved through a process of selection. Thus, function refers forward from the object or process, along some chain of causation, to the goal or success...
).
All individual organisms interact with their environment (consisting of both animate and inanimate components), and exchange materials, energy, and sensory
Sensory
Sensory may refer to:relating to senses or smellIn biology:* Sensory preference* Sensory system, part of the nervous system of organisms* Sensory neuron, nerve cell responsible for transmitting information about external stimuli...
information. Ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
has generally focused on the exchanges of matter and energy, while sensory interactions have generally been studied as influences on behavior and functions of certain physiological systems (sense organs). The relatively new area of sensory ecology has emerged as more researchers focus on questions concerning information in the environment. Most often, what kinds of useful information are available and what information does an organism obtain?
This new focus emphasizes a distinction between matter/energy that can make things happen (like applying forces to move objects or doing work in the sense of thermodynamics
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a physical science that studies the effects on material bodies, and on radiation in regions of space, of transfer of heat and of work done on or by the bodies or radiation...
) and matter/energy that lead to significant changes only after their effects are amplified (e.g. by electronic amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
s, sensory system
Sensory system
A sensory system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information. A sensory system consists of sensory receptors, neural pathways, and parts of the brain involved in sensory perception. Commonly recognized sensory systems are those for vision, hearing, somatic...
s, or physiological effectors). The former influences constitute causal inputs from the environment to the organism, while the latter constitute informational or sensory inputs to the organism.
For example, light may play a causal role by providing energy to heat an organism, energy for photosynthesis, or (especially in the case of ultraviolet light) cause damage to tissues. In addition, organisms with appropriate sensory systems can respond to light in many other ways, employing it as a source of information. In most cases, sensory systems are so proficient that organisms respond to much lower intensities than are required for significant causal effects, and there is a clear distinction between inputs carrying information and those having causal effects.
See also
- SensorySensorySensory may refer to:relating to senses or smellIn biology:* Sensory preference* Sensory system, part of the nervous system of organisms* Sensory neuron, nerve cell responsible for transmitting information about external stimuli...
biology - EcologyEcologyEcology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
- InformationInformationInformation in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
- Stimulus (physiology)Stimulus (physiology)In physiology, a stimulus is a detectable change in the internal or external environment. The ability of an organism or organ to respond to external stimuli is called sensitivity....
- Signal (disambiguation), relevant subtopics
- Migration (disambiguation), relevant subtopics
- SoundSoundSound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.-Propagation of...
- Visual perceptionVisual perceptionVisual perception is the ability to interpret information and surroundings from the effects of visible light reaching the eye. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision...
- OlfactionOlfactionOlfaction is the sense of smell. This sense is mediated by specialized sensory cells of the nasal cavity of vertebrates, and, by analogy, sensory cells of the antennae of invertebrates...
(sense of smell) - TaxisTaxisA taxis is an innate behavioral response by an organism to a directional stimulus or gradient of stimulus intensity. A taxis differs from a tropism in that the organism has motility and demonstrates guided movement towards or away from the stimulus source ...
- ChemotaxisChemotaxisChemotaxis is the phenomenon in which somatic cells, bacteria, and other single-cell or multicellular organisms direct their movements according to certain chemicals in their environment. This is important for bacteria to find food by swimming towards the highest concentration of food molecules,...
- ThermotaxisThermotaxisThermotaxis is a behavior in which an organism directs its locomotion up or down a gradient of temperature.Lab research has determined that some slime molds and small nematodes can migrate along amazingly shallow temperature gradients of less than 0.1C/cm...