In its own blind way, the amoeba has a drive to watch and hold its borders. It then can avoid danger, seek food and decide what to eat. Many mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects tinker with this same boundary. They all play with it. This is how they carve out their niche in the world.
Beavers push out their boundary and make dams.
Spiders make webs. Hermit crabs find shells. Gophers dig tunnels. Termites work as a unit to build a castle. The male Australian bowerbird builds a small courtship canyon.