Abstract

Overview

Electricity, the interaction between electrically charged objects, plays a crucial role in various biological systems. Until recently, the importance of electricity was primarily recognized at the atomic, molecular, and cellular levels.

Findings

• The role of electricity at the ecological scale has often been overlooked, with research only sporadically connected.
• Recent advancements highlight the widespread presence of electrical forces in nature and their significant impact on ecological interactions such as predator-prey dynamics, pollination, and animal dispersal.
• The study discusses the biology and ecology of electroreception—the ability to detect electric fields—and its ecological relevance.

Conclusion

We present a thorough review and synthesis of the emerging field of electric ecology, examining both natural systems and the effects of human activity. Future research directions, especially the newly discovered aerial electroreception, are proposed as highly promising.