In fairy tales, animals and plants communicate in the human language. Of course, this is impossible in life, but this does not mean that nature is silent. We tell you what kind of code language the hares use, how beeches express solidarity and why scientists are skeptical of biomo sodetics.
Zoosemiotics was born in the mid-70s, it owes the appearance of zoologists, ethologists, biologists, linguists and philosophers who relied on the works of German biologist Jacob von Ikskuly. In his opinion, all living creatures live and develop in their own environments, in which there are systems of signs for interaction with the outside world. We’ll figure out the examples.
Hares against foxes and dogs
So, zoosemiotics studies ways of interacting animals with each other, other species and, in general with the environment.
So, for Enthony Holly, there is no doubt that animals communicate with each other with the help of signs. 5000 hours of observation of hares and foxes provided him with convincing evidence. Hares can easily be saved from the fox if they notice it in time. When they see a stealing predator, they do not run away, but willingly discover themselves without hiding. After which the fox usually does not pursue them. What is happening? According to Holly, the foxes know that hares are running faster, and if they are already discovered, there are no chances to catch up with the victim. Hares know the awareness of the foxes, so they demonstrate themselves, explaining to the predator that he was discovered. With the help of such a dialogue, animals avoid useless persecution.
Now, if the hare understands that the dog attacked his trail
, he is fleeing with all the agility that he is capable. The hare knows that the dog can catch him if desired.
Can plants say?
In Africa, there is a breed of acacia, which, when the giraffes approaches, immediately poison their leaves and distinguish ethylene, warning neighboring trees about danger. Giraffes know about this, therefore they choose between two tactics: they look for another food or use the opposite direction of the wind to quickly pounce on the still “unconducted” acacias.
The German scientist and writer Peter Volleben describes the amazing property of the bean. When one of the trees weakens in the beech forest (poor soil, illness), its “relatives” feed it with carbohydrates through a cunning joint root system. This behavior means that they have coordination or cooperation on joint growth. According to the scientist, trees can communicate, they have several ways to express, including sounds. Their roots are the equivalent of the brain. They also have a memory that allows you to throw leaves in time every year.
What science thinks?
Despite the creation in 2005 of the International Society of Biosemiotic Research, this discipline still causes skepticism among scientists, they see in it rather a philosophy, and not an empirical scientific course.
Obviously, the methods of communications in bacteria and mammals cannot be the same, in plants and animals they are also different. This does not prevent the supporters of biosemiotics from continuing research and prove that all living things on Earth communicate with the help of signs and signals. If for biologists evolution and biodiversity are the result of natural selection, then for them it is the result of mutual influence, communication with the help of special signs.
