Sense organs serve as a kind of biological interface between the environment and the organism. Therefore, the relationship between sensory systems and ecology is very close and its knowledge of fundamental importance for an understanding of animal behavior. The sixteen chapters of this book exemplify the diversity of the constraints and opportunities associated with the sensation of stimuli representing different forms of energy. The book stresses the events taking place in the sensory periphery where the animal is exposed to and gets in touch with its natural habitat and acquires the information needed to organize its interaction with its environment. Ecology of Sensing brings together the leading experts in the field.

Biological sensors are usually remarkably small, sensitive and efficient. It is highly desirable to design corresponding artificial sensors for scientific, industrial and commercial purposes.This book is designed to fill an urgent need for interdisciplinary exchange between biologists studying sensors in the natural world and engineers and physical scientists developing artificial sensors. Contributions from leading scientists in this area, whether engineers or biologists, are written to be accessible to readers from these and other disciplines. The main topics cover mechanical sensors, visual sensors and vision and chemosensors. Readers will obtain a fuller understanding of the nature and performance of natural sensors as well as enhanced appreciation for the current status and the potential applicability of artificial microsensors. Friedrich G. Barth was awarded the "Karl-Ritter-von-Frisch-Medaille at the 2003 Annual Conference of the German Zoological Society in Halle, Germany."

Sense organs serve as a kind of biological interface between the environment and the organism. Therefore, the relationship between sensory systems and ecology is very close and its knowledge of fundamental importance for an understanding of animal behavior. The sixteen chapters of this book exemplify the diversity of the constraints and opportunities associated with the sensation of stimuli representing different forms of energy. The book stresses the events taking place in the sensory periphery where the animal is exposed to and gets in touch with its natural habitat and acquires the information needed to organize its interaction with its environment.
"Ecology of Sensing " brings together the leading experts in the field.

Spinnen sind wundervolle Kreaturen. Ihr reichhaltiges und komplexes Verhalten verfA1/4gt A1/4ber hochentwickelte Sinnessysteme und ist hervorragend an die Bedingungen ihrer Umwelt angepasst - wie sich aus ihrem evolutionAren Erfolg ersehen lAsst: sie hatten 400 Millionen Jahre Zeit, ihre Biosensoren zu einer faszinierenden technischen Perfektion und KomplexitAt auszuarbeiten. Professor Friedrich G. Barth stellt in seinem packenden Buch diese "technische Perfektion" in den A1/4bergeordneten Zusammenhang der "Biologie," in der die Passung zwischen Umwelt und Sinnesorganen und die SelektivitAt der Sinne als Bindeglied zwischen Umwelt und Verhalten eine vorranginge Rolle spielt.