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- Popularity of mimicry studies in evolutionary and theoretical biology
- Unique profile of the manuscript focused on biosemiotics and communication aspect of mimicry
- Potential of biosemiotics as a developing field for a wider epigenetic movement in biology (e.g. evo-devo, systems biology)
Part of the book series: Biosemiotics (BSEM, volume 16)
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
The present book analyses critically the tripartite mimicry model (consisting of the mimic, model and receiver species) and develops semiotic tools for comparative analysis. It is proposed that mimicry has a double structure where sign relations in communication are in constant interplay with ecological relations between species. Multi-constructivism and toolbox-like conceptual methods are advocated for, as these allow taking into account both the participants’ Umwelten as well as cultural meanings related to specific mimicry cases.
From biosemiotic viewpoint, mimicry is a sign relation, where deceptively similar messages are perceived, interpreted and acted upon. Focusing on living subjects and their communication opens up new ways to understand mimicry. Such view helps to explain the diversity of mimicry as well as mimicry studies and treat these in a single framework. On a meta-level, a semiotic view allows critical reflection on the use of mimicry concept in modern biology.
The author further discusses interpretations of mimicry in contemporary semiotics, analyses mimicry as communicative interaction, relates mimicry to iconic signs and focuses on abstract resemblances in mimicry. Theoretical discussions are illustrated with detailed excursions into practical mimicry cases in nature (brood parasitism, eyespots, myrmecomorphy, etc.). The book concludes with a conviction that mimicry should be treated in a broader semiotic-ecological context as it presumes the existence of ecological codes and other sign conventions in the ecosystem.
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Authors and Affiliations
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Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
Timo Maran
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Mimicry and Meaning: Structure and Semiotics of Biological Mimicry
Authors: Timo Maran
Series Title: Biosemiotics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50317-2
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing AG 2017
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-50315-8Published: 18 January 2017
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-84373-5Published: 15 July 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-50317-2Published: 11 January 2017
Series ISSN: 1875-4651
Series E-ISSN: 1875-466X
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 164
Number of Illustrations: 4 b/w illustrations, 6 illustrations in colour
Topics: Ecology, Plant Sciences, Semantics, Animal Anatomy / Morphology / Histology, Systems Biology