Seeing mangrove swamps from a distance: Development of a virtual field trip

Abstract

The days of reductive biology, so strikingly successful in revealing biochemical, biophysical and molecular processes in cells, are now leading on to the study of interactions between processes, computational biology, and complex systems. This means that whole plants (and animals) in their natural or agricultural environment will increasingly become the stuff of experiments. Therefore computer-capable, molecular-capable students should begin to sign up for field trips alongside those interested in evolutionary and ecological questions. In short, it looks as though field biology will become more important for all types of biologists.