21 research outputs found
Quo vadis, Biotremology?
No full textIn the past 5 years since the publication of the forerunner of the present
volume, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in research, published and ongoing,
in the field of vibrational communication—the range of taxa studied and of methods
used is expanding rapidly, the questions asked are multiplying and are more sharply
delineated. This international collaboration of editors, representing Germany, Italy,
Slovenia, and the USA, attempt as authors to provide an update on the status of
the new, and still-emerging, scientific discipline of biotremology, comprising recent
research, reviews, and first attempts to synthesize. Introducing and examining the
highlights of the content of this 25-chapter book give the reader a preview in the
form of a snapshot of the chapters that follow. In addition, these authors have the
freedom to explain fine points and aspects of the bigger picture of the field. Perhaps
most importantly, they can suggest what is left to learn at this moment—in effect,
“Quo vadis?” Where are we going
The phase response of primary auditory afferents in a songbird (Sturnus vulgaris L.)
No full textThe effects of stimulus frequency and intensity on phase-locking characteristics of cochlear ganglion cells were studied in the starling. All cells showed phase-locking to tone stimuli within their response area. Phase-locking at CF is found on average 9 dB below discharge rate threshold. Phase-locking is best at 0.4 kHz and deteriorates with increasing frequency almost independently of CF. No phase-locking was evident for test frequencies above 3–4 kHz. Phase-locking in cells with CFs above 1.0 kHz is better below CF than at CF. For constant sound pressure, an increase in stimulus frequency always produced an increase in phase lag of the neural response. The phase vs. frequency data obtained at constant sound pressure can be reasonably approximated by straight line functions. The slopes of these functions indicate the latency of the neural response, and are correlated with the CFs of the respective cells; the latency tends to be longer in low-CF cells and shorter in high-CF cells. The latency decreases by 0.04 ms per l dB sound pressure increase. The response phase at CF is nearly stimulus level-independent. Increasing stimulus intensity causes increasing phase lag below CF and decreasing phase lag above CF. These results are compared to findings in other vertebrates and demonstrate the similarities of phase-locking characteristics despite the substantial anatomical differences among the vertebrate groups
Can vibrational playback improve control of an invasive stink bug?
No full textImproved understanding of the function of insect vibrational signals
has spurred development of a vibrational method for mass-trapping the brown
marmorated stink bug, which is currently one of the most notorious invasive insect
pests. We outline the ongoing research program, which started with the basic
description of close-range sexual behaviour that is mediated by vibrational signals,
and continued with testing of a promising female vibrational signal that proved to
be considerably attractive to males in playback trials. On this basis, a bi-modal trap
was constructed, comprising an aggregation pheromone dispenser, the vibrational
signal playback and a device for electrocuting the attracted animals in a pyramid
trap design. Preliminary field trial results are discussed in the context of the interplay
between chemical and vibrational modalities during reproductive behaviour in stink
bugs, and the potential for achieving environmentally friendlier control of this pest
Mating disruption by vibrational signals: state of the field and perspectives
No full textUntil a few years ago, the concept of mating disruption had been
exclusively associated with the use of pheromones to reduce population density
of insect pests. Since the early 2000s, a novel approach has been proposed to the
scientific community: vibrational mating disruption (VMD). The novelty is the
use of disturbance vibrations to disrupt the mating behavior of insect pests that
communicate by means of substrate-borne vibrations. This research falls within
the new field of biotremology and it brought the VMD from a theoretical concept
to practical open field experimentation: in 2017, VMD was applied in an organic
vineyard in Northern Italy to control leafhopper pests’ population density. This
achievement gave us the opportunity to report the state of the field for the method, to
discuss the ongoing research and to make a comparison between pheromone mating
disruption (PMD) and VMD. In this chapter, we review the salient moments that led
to the field application of VMD. Then, we discuss the VMD characteristics and we
provide a benchmark, using as reference the traditional PMD to discuss similarities
and differences. Furthermore, we analyze the advantages and disadvantages of
applying VMD to commercial crops. We are convinced that the first vibrational
vineyard is a starting point and that biotremology will provide many innovative
possibilities for farmers to control pests in the future. We also think that the introduction of electronic devices in the vineyard could be a trailblazer for the
diffusion of smart technology in viticulture, thus improving its general management
Biogéographie de Madagascar = Biogeography of Madagascar
No full textLes cris mâles du #Boophis madagascariensis) (#Rhacophoridae) ont été enregistrés dans son milieu naturel, la forêt tropicale humide de l'est de Madagascar. Nous les avons classés ensuite en 28 types différents. Bien que tous les cris "iambiques" soient considérés comme les variantes d'un même type, cette espèce en compte 8 à son actif, ce qui représente le plus large répertoire jamais réalisé pour les grenouilles. Des extraits de la bande témoin ont été utilisés comme stimuli afin d'établir la signification fonctionnelle de quelques types. Une séquence de la bande témoin a pour effet d'accélérer la vitesse d'émission des cris mâles ; une autre, de les suspendre alors que d'autres extraits ne modifient pas le son d'origine. La signification fonctionnelle d'un répertoire élargi des cris est discutée. (Résumé d'auteur
The home health aides' knowledge of nutritional needs for homebound elderly
No full textA study was conducted to determine the nutrition knowledge of home health aides working with elderly homebound patients residing in a rural area. Twenty-seven
home health aides identified nutrition services needed by their patients and completed a nutrition questionnaire to determine the aides' nutrition knowledge. Fifteen aides (experimental group) then attended a nutrition training session while the remaining 12 aides (control group) did not receive any nutrition education during the study.
Both experimental and control groups showed an improvement 1n the aides' identification of their patients' need for nutrition services. This would indicate that factors other than the training session improved the aides' detection of nutritional needs in their patients. Home health aides can be utilized to identify patients in need of nutrition services. The author recommends further research to determine factors that improve aides' knowledge of nutritional risk in elderly homebound patients
Frequency matching of vocalizations to inner-ear sensitivity along an altitudinal gradient in the coqui frog
No full textAcoustic communication involves both the generation and the detection of a signal. In the coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui ), it is known that the spectral contents of its calls systematically change with altitude above sea level. Here, distortion product otoacoustic emissions are used to assess the frequency range over which the inner ear is sensitive. It is found that both the spectral contents of the calls and the innerear sensitivity change in a similar fashion along an altitudinal gradient. As a result, the call frequencies and the auditory tuning are closely matched at all altitudes. We suggest that the animal's body size determines the frequency particulars of the call apparatus and the inner ear
