Information in the Environment

This book identifies the commonalities between communication within a species and communication between species. Behavior and exchange of non-heritable information occurs between individuals of different species, in animals and plants, in order to exploit other species and compete for resources. Several examples of adaptations of one species to exploit the information passed between individuals of another species are given. This book describes how animals make decisions while gathering information and resources, selecting habitat, and interacting with potential competitors. Plants grow in response to nutrients in soil, which may require gene regulation in response to information in the environment. Information is also exhibited in biodiversity, in the number and types of species present, and this information is used by other organisms as they assess their surroundings. The information content of ecological systems changes when species are added or lost.