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The ecology of electricity and electroreception

2021 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 991

The paper presents a comprehensive collation and synthesis of research on "electric ecology," reviewing how electrical forces and ecologically relevant electric fields may influence diverse ecological interactions and summarizing knowledge on electroreception…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021
Study typereview
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

The ecology of electricity and electroreception Sam J. England, Daniel Robert. The ecology of electricity and electroreception. Biological Reviews. 12 October 2021. doi.org Abstract Electricity, the interaction between electrically charged objects, is widely known to be fundamental to the functioning of living systems. However, this appreciation has largely been restricted to the scale of atoms, molecules, and cells. By contrast, the role of electricity at the ecological scale has historically been largely neglected, characterised by punctuated islands of research infrequently connected to one another. Recently, however, an understanding of the ubiquity of electrical forces within the natural environment has begun to grow, along with a realisation of the multitude of ecological interactions that these forces may influence. Herein, we provide the first comprehensive collation and synthesis of research in this emerging field of electric ecology. This includes assessments of the role electricity plays in the natural ecology of predator–prey interactions, pollination, and animal dispersal, among many others, as well as the impact of anthropogenic activity on these systems. A detailed introduction to the ecology and physiology of electroreception – the biological detection of ecologically relevant electric fields – is also provided. Further to this, we suggest avenues for future research that show particular promise, most notably those investigating the recently discovered sense of aerial electroreception. Open access paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview
Effect directionunclear
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureNot supplied
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The paper presents a comprehensive collation and synthesis of research on "electric ecology," reviewing how electrical forces and ecologically relevant electric fields may influence diverse ecological interactions and summarizing knowledge on electroreception, including recently discovered aerial electroreception.

Outcomes measured

  • Ecological roles of electricity in natural environments (e.g., predator–prey interactions, pollination, animal dispersal)
  • Electroreception (biological detection of ecologically relevant electric fields), including aerial electroreception
  • Impact of anthropogenic activity on electrical ecological systems
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Ecological roles of electricity in natural environments (e.g., predator–prey interactions, pollination, animal dispersal)",
    "Electroreception (biological detection of ecologically relevant electric fields), including aerial electroreception",
    "Impact of anthropogenic activity on electrical ecological systems"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The paper presents a comprehensive collation and synthesis of research on \"electric ecology,\" reviewing how electrical forces and ecologically relevant electric fields may influence diverse ecological interactions and summarizing knowledge on electroreception, including recently discovered aerial electroreception.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electric ecology",
    "electricity",
    "electroreception",
    "aerial electroreception",
    "predator–prey interactions",
    "pollination",
    "animal dispersal",
    "anthropogenic impact",
    "ecological interactions"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1111/brv.12804
PubMed: Not supplied

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