These periods became known as temporal hours, because their duration varied according to the changing length of days and nights with the passing of the seasons.
And this signalling isn't all friendly chatter, some bacteria intercept and break down the signals from other species, or even release signals to trick others into changing their behaviour.
Researchers say that rising global temperatures and changes in weather patterns have knock-on effects which are already stunting the growth of a wide range of species, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Without further changes to the way it functions and is run, it may find itself beset by some of the same underlying problems that were pushing it to the margins before the crisis brought it back.