Here we review (the mostly) experimental studies
demonstrating the variety of taxa that possess attentional
abilities. Each study is intended to show the prevalence
of attentional processes, regardless of the precise experimental
procedures or findings. The diversity of species
demonstrates that attention is a widespread, perhaps universal,
cognitive ability that allows animals to cope with
exposure to irrelevant stimuli. Compromised attention
thus could have potentially important implications for conservation
and management.