Behavioral Ecology and Sensory Biology

Abstract

Zoologists use many different levels of analysis to study animals. Going from molecular to molar, these levels would include the neurochemical, neurophysiological, sensory biological, anatomical, behavioral, and ecological. Each of these represents part of the overall process of developing a full understanding of the structure, function, and evolution of animals. Therefore, no level of analysis exists in a vacuum; each is related to the others. In spite of this clear relationship, communication among scientists working at different levels of analysis is notoriously difficult (see Lehrman 1974, for an interesting and thoughtful discussion of this issue). In general, molar levels of analysis can provide direction to molecular levels, while molecular levels can provide information about mechanisms and constraints. In this chapter, I shall suggest some problems of sensory biology that are indicated by a more molar level of analysis, that of behavioral ecology.