> that awareness may be a form of consciousness different than our own the response requires no consciousness, only a mechanical operation > what evolutionary

> that awareness may be a form of consciousness different than our own the response requires no consciousness, only a mechanical operation > what evolutionary advantage is being provided to the tree releasing the pheromones? natural selection works in perpetuity; "this" tree benefited from the action/reaction it has, thanks to its parents having the same reaction/action. The reified response then promulgates because it helps the bearers survive, and becomes self-reinforcing.