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Size structures sensory hierarchy in ocean life.
Erik A Martens1, Navish Wadhwa2, Nis S Jacobsen3
1VKR Centre for Ocean Life, Technical University of Denmark, Jægersborg Alle 1, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Jægersborg Alle 1, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark Department of Biomedical Sciences, Copenhagen University, Blegdamsvej 3, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark erik.martens@ds.mpg.de.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|September 18, 2015
Summary
Body size dictates aquatic sensory abilities. Larger aquatic animals possess a wider range of senses, like vision and echolocation, and can sense farther, impacting ecosystem structure.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Sensory ecology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Aquatic organisms rely on sensing for survival.
- Sensing strategies vary widely across marine life.
- Body size is a fundamental biological parameter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body size and sensory capabilities in aquatic environments.
- To determine how sensing mode and range are influenced by an organism's size.
- To explain the physiological and physical constraints shaping sensory hierarchies.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of sensory mode availability and range based on body size.
- Analysis of physiological and physical limitations on signal processing.
- Literature review of sensory ranges across diverse aquatic taxa.
Main Results:
- A clear hierarchy of sensing modes emerges with increasing body size: chemosensing, mechanosensing, vision, hearing, and echolocation.
- Sensing range significantly increases with body size.
- Theoretical predictions for sensory mode size limits align with empirical data.
Conclusions:
- Body size is a primary determinant of sensory modality and range in aquatic life.
- Physiological and physical laws govern the observed size-dependent sensory hierarchy.
- This size-based structuring of sensing capabilities profoundly influences aquatic ecosystems.
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