Going belowground: burying anthropomorphic biases on gustation and olfaction

Chemical signaling underpins behavioral interactions among organisms in the soil. Understanding chemical communication soil requires a paradigm shift methodology and perspectives compared to aboveground ecosystems because olfaction gustation, accepted modalities of chemosensation aboveground, may not accurately represent To fully understand soil, it is essential consider how properties, such as moisture, pH, adsorption, affect transport perception semiochemicals. De-anthropomorphizing study can avoid potential biases, particularly systems, where distinctions between gustation are confounded by heterogeneity environment its effects on mobility signals. In this perspective, we first explore confounds dichotomy with hypothetical but ecologically relevant examples. Then examine anthropomorphic biases ecology have influenced ecology. Our examples discussion prepared primarily reference arthropods. We conclude discussing seven future research directions outstanding questions. The premier example system investigators should anthropomorphisms when studying Research further efforts towards developing unified view that could apply all environments occurs.