Ecology’s tempo sets the speed of sight across the animal kingdom
A Nature Ecology & Evolution study analyzes 237 species (from jellyfish to vertebrates) and finds that species with fast-paced ecologies have higher temporal resolution in vision (flicker-fusion thresholds), especially those that fly and rely on pursuit predation. Ambush predators show tempo that depends on environmental context, suggesting perceptual tempo is shaped by ecological demands. The findings support Autrum’s idea that ecology’s pace drives variation in how quickly animals perceive their world.