Biocommunication (science)
Encyclopedia
In the study of the biological sciences
the general term biocommunication is used to describe more specific types of communication
within (intraspecific) or between (interspecific
) species
of plant
s, animal
s, fungi and bacteria
. Communication means sign-mediated interactions following syntactic, pragmatic
and semantic rules. Signs in most cases are chemical molecules (semiochemicals). Biocommunication of animals may include mechanisms as vocalizations (as between competing bird species), pheromone
production (as between various species of insects), chemical signals between plants and animals (as in tannin
production used by vascular plants to warn away insects), and chemically mediated communication between plants and within plants.
, abstract biocommunication theory may be considered to be a form of biosemiotics
, and a subdiscipline of semiotic theory. Accordingly, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic aspects of biocommunication processes are distinguished. Biocommunication specific to animals (animal communication
) is considered a branch of zoosemiotics. The semiotic study of molecular genetics
, can be considered a study of biocommunication at its most basic level.
The scientific study of biocommunication as a subfield of semiotics has been introduced by Charles W. Morris
and Thomas A. Sebeok, and currently developed by the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies
although they never used the term biocommunication.
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
the general term biocommunication is used to describe more specific types of communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
within (intraspecific) or between (interspecific
Interspecies communication
Interspecies communication is communication between different species of animals, plants, fungi or bacteria. Interspecies communication research in the sciences and the arts has produced results, giving hope that we may someday be able to communicate with certain animals on an advanced level.Works...
) species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s, animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s, fungi and bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. Communication means sign-mediated interactions following syntactic, pragmatic
Pragmatics
Pragmatics is a subfield of linguistics which studies the ways in which context contributes to meaning. Pragmatics encompasses speech act theory, conversational implicature, talk in interaction and other approaches to language behavior in philosophy, sociology, and linguistics. It studies how the...
and semantic rules. Signs in most cases are chemical molecules (semiochemicals). Biocommunication of animals may include mechanisms as vocalizations (as between competing bird species), pheromone
Pheromone
A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of the receiving individual...
production (as between various species of insects), chemical signals between plants and animals (as in tannin
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
production used by vascular plants to warn away insects), and chemically mediated communication between plants and within plants.
Biocommunication and Linguistics
In the study of linguisticsLinguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, abstract biocommunication theory may be considered to be a form of biosemiotics
Biosemiotics
Biosemiotics is a growing field that studies the production, action and interpretation of signs in the biological realm...
, and a subdiscipline of semiotic theory. Accordingly, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic aspects of biocommunication processes are distinguished. Biocommunication specific to animals (animal communication
Animal communication
Animal communication is any behavior on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future behaviour of another animal. The study of animal communication, is sometimes called Zoosemiotics has played an important part in the...
) is considered a branch of zoosemiotics. The semiotic study of molecular genetics
Molecular genetics
Molecular genetics is the field of biology and genetics that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The field studies how the genes are transferred from generation to generation. Molecular genetics employs the methods of genetics and molecular biology...
, can be considered a study of biocommunication at its most basic level.
The scientific study of biocommunication as a subfield of semiotics has been introduced by Charles W. Morris
Charles W. Morris
Charles W. Morris was an American semiotician and philosopher.-Background:A son of Charles William and Laura Morris, Charles William Morris was born on May 23, 1901...
and Thomas A. Sebeok, and currently developed by the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies
International Society for Biosemiotic Studies
The International Society for Biosemiotic Studies is an academic society for the researchers in semiotic biology. The Society was established in 2005...
although they never used the term biocommunication.
See also
- ChemotropismChemotropismChemotropism is growth of organisms such as bacteria and plants, navigated by chemical stimulus from outside of the organism....
- CognitionCognitionIn science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions. Cognition is studied in various disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and computer science...
- Molecular geneticsMolecular geneticsMolecular genetics is the field of biology and genetics that studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level. The field studies how the genes are transferred from generation to generation. Molecular genetics employs the methods of genetics and molecular biology...
- Plant physiologyPlant physiologyPlant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
- Plant NeurobiologyPlant neurobiologyPlant neurobiology studies those aspects of plant physiology with perceived similarities to the neurobiological processes of animals. It concerns mostly the sensory adaptive behaviour of plants and plant electrophysiology. J. C. Bose the Indian scientist is credited as the first person to research...
- Slime mouldSlime mouldSlime mold or mould is a broad term describing protists that use spores to reproduce. Slime molds were formerly classified as fungi, but are no longer considered part of this kingdom....