Sensory Ecology

Never so pleased, sir. 'Twas an excellent dance, And for a preface, I never heard a better. Two Noble Kinsmen, Act III, Sc.S This volume is based mostly on the lectures delivered at an Advanced Study Institute (ASI) of the same title held in July 1977. One lecture given is not in the volume and three chapters, although not based on lectures delivered, have been added to better balance the book. A chapter on the ecosensory functions in crustaceans could not be put in due to time contingency. This absence is deeply regretted. The idea to hold an ASI on Sensory Ecology evolved slowly, main­ ly due to my own research interest in the past and partly to the discussions I had with a number of colleagues, particularly Dr. John Lythgoe of the University of Sussex. The purpose was to interface Sensory Physiology with Ecology so that workers in those fields will develop a greater awareness for each other. Sense organs have of course evolved to keep their possessors.~ware of the environment and changes in it. Thus, normally one could expect that a study of their functions will be undertaken in relation to environmental parameters.

Inhalt

1. General Introduction.- M. A. Ali.- 2. Survey of Ecosensory Functions.- Phylogenetic Survey of Sensory Functions.- Taxes in Unicells, Especially Protozoa.- Ecosensory Functions in Lower Invertebrates.- Coelomate Invertebrates (Except Crustacea, Arachnida and Insecta).- Ecosensory Functions in Insects (With Remarks on Arachida).- Fishes: Vision in Dim Light and Surrogate Senses.- Ecological Niche Dimensions and Sensory Functions in Amphibians.- Reptile Sensory Systems and the Electromagnetic Spectrum.- Sensory Ecology of Birds.- Sensory Ecology of Mammals.- 3. Adaptive Radiation of Sensory Modalities.- Functional Adaptations in Chemosensory Systems.- Adaptive Radiation of Mechanoreception.- Sound Reception in Different Environments.- Baroreception.- The Adaptive Radiation of Proprioceptors.- Peripheral Thermal Receptors.- Photoreception.- A Survey of Vertebrate Strategies for Vision in Air and Water.- Ecological Aspects of Electroreception.- 4. Indices.- Author Index.