A recent study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution reveals a massive network of information exchange in natural ecosystems.
A team of scientists, led by Dr. Ulrich Prüese of the German Centre for Biodiversity Research and the University of Jena, has dubbed this network the "Internet of Nature."
The ecosystems covered by the "Internet of Nature" are not limited to food chains (where one organism preys on another), but also include complex networks in which organisms exchange diverse signals such as smells, sounds, and light, which control the behavior of organisms ranging from animals and plants to microbes.
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For example, a wolf changes course when it smells a deer, while a deer hides when it senses danger. A hyena follows a circling eagle, viewing it as a sign of prey. Even plants respond to light or heat, while spiders build their webs where insects abound.
Researchers have identified three main types of communications in the “Internet of Nature”:
Food links : such as a predator tracking its prey via trails, or prey fleeing when it smells danger.
Purely informational links : where organisms exchange indirect signals (e.g., the relationship between a hyena and an eagle).
Environmental links : such as a moth's response to light, or a chameleon's changing colors to match its surroundings.
Ulrich Brose, the study's lead author, emphasized that the "Internet of Nature" will transform our understanding of the interactions of organisms and change our perception of how animals, plants, and microbes interact in the living world.
Of particular concern is the disruption humans are causing to these networks. Road noise silences frogs, artificial lights confuse moths, and chemicals disrupt the scents ants use for coordination, which not only destroys habitats but also disrupts a fundamental “language of nature.”
The study showed that the loss of these signals leads to organisms being unable to find food, fail to reproduce, and are unable to avoid danger.
Ulrich Brose, the study's lead author, emphasized that the "Internet of Nature" will transform our understanding of organismal interactions and reshape our perception of the nature of interactions between animals, plants, and microbes in the living world.
Of particular concern is human interference in disrupting these networks. Road noise muffles frog calls, artificial lights confuse moths, and chemicals disrupt the scents ants use for coordination. This not only destroys natural habitats but also disrupts a fundamental "language of nature."
The study also showed that the loss of these signals leads to:
The inability of organisms to find food
Failure of reproductive processes
inability to avoid risks