Neuroethology of Acoustic Communication in Larval and Adult Insects

幼虫和成虫声音交流的神经行为学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-05947
• 负责人: Yack, Jayne
• 金额: $ 5.17万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=611937
• 关键词: Neuroethology; Acoustic; Communication; Larval; Adult

The long-term objective of my NSERC research program is to explain how animals’ sensory systems are adapted to natural environments. Sensory organs are crucial for the day-to-day functioning and survival of all animals (including humans) playing integral roles in communication, orientation, and predator detection. In my Neuroethology & Bioacoustics Facility we study the acoustic sensory ‘worlds’ of (primarily) insects. Insects have an amazing diversity of sensory organs that detect and process acoustic (sound and vibration) signals extending far beyond human sensory capabilities. We employ specialized instruments and methods to tap into these communication channels and identify novel sensory organs. This program has supported cutting edge, internationally recognized research, including the discoveries that nocturnal butterflies possess ultrasound-sensitive ‘bat detecting’ ears, that caterpillars communicate through plant vibrations, and that earthworms surface in response to ground vibrations. The proposed research will build upon this success by focusing on butterflies, caterpillars and bark beetles- insects whose acoustic sensory capabilities are poorly understood. BUTTERFLY behaviour has been extensively researched and has contributed significantly to models of animal migration and global warming. While butterfly visual and chemical senses have been studied at length, surprisingly little is known about their hearing. We have shown that many species possess tiny ears on their wings. We will test the hypothesis that these ears function as ‘bird detectors’ and examine the neurophysiological mechanisms that allow a butterfly to detect and localize sounds in its environment. This research will expand our knowledge of the sensory ecology of insects, and will provide insights into the biomechanical, neurophysiological and neuroanatomical characteristics of these unusual ‘wing ears’. CATERPILLARS are of significant ecological and economic importance to Canada as forest and agricultural pests, yet, fundamental questions about how these insects sense and interact with their environment remain unanswered. We will explore the functions of acoustic signalling and hearing. For example, we will test the intriguing hypothesis that larvae create ‘vibratory fences’ to space themselves on their host plants, and that specialized elongated ‘hairs’ in monarch butterfly caterpillars function as hearing organs to detect predators. We will also identify novel vibration receptors in territorial caterpillars that compete using vibrations. This research will provide unprecedented insights into the communication systems of all larval insects, including those of honey bees, flies, beetles and moths. BARK BEETLES such as the mountain pine beetle and dutch elm beetle impose significant threats to Canadian forests. We have shown that they are acoustically active beneath tree bark in the sap layer where they make galleries that eventually kill the tree. We will test hypotheses on the roles of these signals in bark beetle survival, and will identify for the first time their acoustic sensory organs. Research on insect acoustic communication contributes to our knowledge of animal behaviour, neuroscience and entomology, and has practical applications for pest management, robotics and human health. Discovering and characterizing novel sensory organs will provide inspiration for developing miniature sensing devices and tools for pest control. Importantly, the proposed research will train HQP at all career stages in skills such as neurophysiology, microscopy, computer programming, videography, bioacoustics, and molecular genetics, preparing them for careers in forest and agricultural entomology, engineering, education, and environmental and health sciences.

我的NSERC研究计划的长期目标是解释动物的感觉系统如何适应自然环境。感官组织对于所有动物（包括人类）在交流，定向和捕食者检测中扮演不可或缺的作用的日常运作和生存至关重要。在我的神经授位学和生物声学设施中，我们研究了（主要是）昆虫的声学感觉“世界”。昆虫具有惊人的感觉器官多样性，这些感觉器官检测和处理声学（声音和振动）信号远远超出了人类的感觉能力。我们采用专门的工具和方法来利用这些通信渠道并识别新型的感觉器官。该计划支持了尖端，国际公认的研究，包括夜间蝴蝶具有超声敏感的“蝙蝠检测”耳朵的发现，即通过植物振动进行毛毛虫进行通信，以及earth响应地面振动而表面表面。 拟议的研究将通过重点关注蝴蝶，毛毛虫和树皮甲壳虫象的象征，其声音感官能力知之甚少。蝴蝶行为已得到广泛研究，并为动物迁移和全球变暖的模型做出了重大贡献。虽然蝴蝶视觉和化学感觉始终是研究的，但对他们的听力知之甚少。我们已经表明，许多物种在翅膀上有微小的耳朵。我们将检验以下假设：这些耳朵充当“鸟检测器”，并检查允许蝴蝶在其环境中检测和定位声音的神经生理机制。这项研究将扩大我们对昆虫的感觉生态学的了解，并将提供对这些不寻常“翅膀耳朵”的生物力学，神经生理和神经解剖学特征的见解。作为森林和农业害虫，毛毛虫对加拿大具有重要的生态和经济意义，但是，关于这些昆虫如何感知和与环境相互作用的基本问题仍未得到解答。我们将探讨声信号和听力的功能。例如，我们将检验一个有趣的假设，即幼虫会产生“振动围栏”以将自己的宿主植物宽恕，并且在君主蝴蝶毛毛虫中，专门的伸长“头发”作为听力器官可检测捕食者。我们还将确定使用病毒竞争的领土毛毛虫中的新型振动接收器。这项研究将为所有幼虫昆虫的通信系统，包括蜜蜂，苍蝇，甲虫和飞蛾的通信系统提供前所未有的见解。树皮甲虫，例如山松甲虫和荷兰榆树甲虫，对加拿大森林构成了重大威胁。我们已经表明，它们在树皮层的树皮下是有效的，在那里它们制作有时会杀死树木的画廊。我们将对这些信号在树皮甲虫生存中的作用进行检验，并首次确定其声学感官组织。 昆虫声传播的研究有助于我们对动物行为，神经科学和昆虫学的了解，并在害虫管理，机器人技术和人类健康方面具有实际应用。发现和表征新颖的感觉器官将为开发微型感官设备和害虫控制工具提供灵感。重要的是，拟议的研究将在所有职业阶段培训HQP，例如神经生理学，显微镜，计算机编程，摄影，生物声学和分子遗传学，为森林和农业昆虫学，工程，教育，环境以及环境和健康科学的职业做好准备。