Final answer:
Nervous tissue is what enables animals to sense and respond to their environment. It contains neurons that transmit signals and work with muscles to allow movement. The development of sensory systems, such as electroreception in sharks, is driven by natural selection and varies among species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tissue that enables an animal to sense and respond to its surroundings is the nervous tissue. Nervous tissue contains specialized cells known as neurons, which are crucial for the transmission of nerve impulses. These impulses allow animals to detect stimuli in both their external and internal environments, process this information, and respond appropriately. This capacity is a key aspect of animals' complex tissue structure, which includes sensory systems tailored to specific environmental demands. Moreover, the nervous tissue works in conjunction with muscle tissue to facilitate movement, an important trait that enables animals to actively seek out food, avoid predators, and find mates.
For example, certain predators like sharks have evolved electroreception, allowing them to detect the electrical fields produced by other animals, which gives them an advantage in hunting within their aquatic environments. Overall, the evolution of nervous systems has been instrumental in allowing animals to quickly adapt to changes, contributing to their survival and evolutionary success.