Since CO 2 is an effective indicator of metabolic activity, eliciting a response to its
environmental concentration can be considered a general mechanism for adaptation.
Similarly, other end products of energy metabolism, such as organic acids and
nitrogen oxides, may also have similar roles as global indicators of environmental
conditions to which microorganisms respond and adapt.
25.2.3 Higher-Order Structure: Autonomous Distribution
and Self-Organization
Social behavior is broadly observed in the world of animals and is a major subject in
animal ethology. Many animals form a flock and perform group action. In the case of
animals of high intelligence, the group activity is directed by a leader. On the other
hand, other animals of low intelligence, such as birds and fish, also form flocks
Fig. 25.2 Schooling
behavior of the arabesque
greenling Pleurogrammus
azonus. The picture was
reprinted from Kitagawa
et al. (2011)
25 Invisible Interactions between Microorganisms
535
environmental concentration can be considered a general mechanism for adaptation.
Similarly, other end products of energy metabolism, such as organic acids and
nitrogen oxides, may also have similar roles as global indicators of environmental
conditions to which microorganisms respond and adapt.
25.2.3 Higher-Order Structure: Autonomous Distribution
and Self-Organization
Social behavior is broadly observed in the world of animals and is a major subject in
animal ethology. Many animals form a flock and perform group action. In the case of
animals of high intelligence, the group activity is directed by a leader. On the other
hand, other animals of low intelligence, such as birds and fish, also form flocks
Fig. 25.2 Schooling
behavior of the arabesque
greenling Pleurogrammus
azonus. The picture was
reprinted from Kitagawa
et al. (2011)
25 Invisible Interactions between Microorganisms
535