MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO BIOACOUSTICS: Integrating phylogenomics, biophysics, and functional genomics to unravel the evolution of hearing and sin
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Lincoln
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Acoustic communication is widespread across the animal kingdom. For decades, studies of acoustically communicating animals have collectively revealed the intricate interplay and co-evolution between signal sender and receiver, as well as the diversity of morphological structures involved in hearing and sound production and their complex neurophysiological underpinnings. However, the current approach in the field of bioacoustics is often narrowly focused on a particular aspect of acoustic communication using single model organisms, making it challenging to draw a general conclusion about how singing and hearing have been shaped through time. This project will take an explicitly clade-based approach using a comprehensive dated phylogeny of Ensifera, the most diverse group of acoustically communicating animals, complemented with cutting-edge techniques in imaging, biophysics, and functional genomics to evaluate mechanisms of hearing and singing in a comparative framework. The ambitious scope of the proposed phylogenomic analysis will firmly establish evolutionary relationships among and within the major ensiferan lineages, which have remained elusive for many decades. The project will generate an unprecedented amount of detailed morphological, biophysical, and genetic data using X-ray micro and nano computed tomography, microscanning laser Doppler vibrometry, RNA-seq, and target capture sequencing. The results from this project will answer outstanding questions about when acoustic communication originated and how often it has been lost, how lineages independently evolved different mechanisms of hearing and signalling, what the physical, neural and genetic bases of these are, and how signal diversity is causally related to diversification and speciation. These findings will collectively reveal general insights about the evolution of acoustic communication.
Planned Impact
This project will fill important gaps in biodiversity and bioacoustics knowledge and provide unique educational opportunities at multiple academic levels, from K-12 students to postdoctoral researchers. It will place particular emphasis on broadening participation of underrepresented students, all of whom stand to collectively benefit from our exciting scientific discoveries. The project results will be broadly disseminated through open access peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, as well as popular media outlets. The international project team will establish a strong collaborative network that will persist long after the grant period. Broader impacts activities include: (1) Develop and offer two rounds of 10-week Summer REU Program specifically targeting Polynesian and Hispanic undergraduate students to provide hands-on experience in biodiversity and genomics research; (2) Develop an outreach activity about insect acoustic communication targeting K-12 students called "The Night at The Gardens" at TAMU educational gardens; (3) Develop an interactive exhibit about the evolution and the genetic basis of acoustic communication to be showcased at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in the U.K.; and (4) Develop a "Cricket Course" targeting the general public and scientists to provide training in identification, ecology, behavior, and bioacoustics of katydids, crickets, and allies at the Archbold Biological Station in Florida and the Soltis Center for Research and Education in Costa Rica.
Benefits to the UK population are also envisaged via potential developments to sensors based on the acoustic organs of the. This exploitation will be targeted at UK industry through the research groups of the principal applicant (PA) at Lincoln. This links with the Research & Enterprise department (RID) and the Laser Group at Lincoln.
Benefits to the UK population are also envisaged via potential developments to sensors based on the acoustic organs of the. This exploitation will be targeted at UK industry through the research groups of the principal applicant (PA) at Lincoln. This links with the Research & Enterprise department (RID) and the Laser Group at Lincoln.
Organisations
Publications
Celiker E
(2024)
Mechanical network equivalence between the katydid and mammalian inner ears
in PLOS Computational Biology
Duncan J
(2021)
Differentiation between left and right wing stridulatory files in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).
in Arthropod structure & development
Hemp C
(2023)
Bush-crickets with very special ears and songs - review of the East African Phaneropterinae genus Dioncomena Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, with notes on its biogeography and the description of new species
in Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift
Jonsson T
(2021)
Tenors Not Sopranos: Bio-Mechanical Constraints on Calling Song Frequencies in the Mediterranean Field-Cricket
in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Laskri S
(2024)
Changes in wing resonance in dried preserved crickets
in Royal Society Open Science
Montealegre-Z F
(2021)
Editorial: Evolutionary Biomechanics of Sound Production and Reception
in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Sarria-Sarria F
(2024)
A New Genus of Andean Katydid with Unusual Pronotal Structure for Enhancing Resonances
in Biology
| Title | 3D printed models of insect ears for teaching and outreach activities |
| Description | We produced 3D printed models of katydid ears to demonstrate how the pinnae cavities serve as natural bat detectors, enhancing gain of only bat calls by 10-20dB. We printed ear models of over 160 species, which could be use for experiments, but also could be considered as 'artefacts' for teaching, outreach, and future exhibitions. Since the models are printed at scale (usually 10-20 times the original size, using special materials that simulate the insect cuticle properties), a great activity for outreach or for teaching is to stimulate these ears with bat sweeps that have been slowed down (wave length enlarged) by same factor of the 3D printed scaled model. This will make the bat calls audible to the human ear. An audience can then listen the bat sweep in a screen, the oscillogram of the natural signal recoded with a microphone outside the ear cavity, or inside the ear cavity. The latter will show huge amplitude in the oscillogram. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | We have presented this idea in our outreach activities in high schools, open days, and have started using it for teaching our undergraduate students in lab this academic year in lab practicals. This is a hands-on- activity that allows the audience to directly interact for the preparation, and people rally like it. |
| URL | https://static-movie-usa.glencoesoftware.com/mp4/10.7554/221/cb1a976375c041ef5c8441f627d52c8f03b1e55... |
| Description | Progress in the sound generator (the wings) The article titled 'Reviving the sound of a 150-year-old insect: the bioacoustics of Prophalangopsis obscura (Ensifera: Hagloidea)' is currently under review at PLOS One. This article uses a multi-disciplinary approach to reconstructing the acoustic signals of a dead museum specimen, with a unique phylogenetic position within the Ensifera. Reviving sound in this species will allow evolutionary comparisons to extinct ensiferans from the Jurassic, and advance models for acoustic reconstruction across the Ensifera. Progress in the hearing system The use of micro-rheology to infer mechanics in the katydid inner ear fluid Copiphora gorgonensis is one of the model species used, and have one of the most highly elaborated ears in insects, which allow them to detect a wide range of acoustic stimuli, from the calls of their mates to the echolocating shrieks of bats that predate on them. Within these ears, located in their front legs, are endowed with outer, middle and inner ear parts, just as in the human ear. Within the inner ear (the insect cochlea) there is a vesicle full of an undetermined fluid. These fluid covers the sensors that detect sound-induced vibrations in the fluid and convert them into electrical impulses and information. The way in which vibrations reach these sensors may depend on the physical properties of the fluid. We are exploring these properties, using a sophisticated technique called microrheology that allows us to characterize the deformations of very small volumes of fluid in response to tiny physical perturbations. So far, using this technique, we have seen that this fluid is much more viscous than water and has not elasticity whatsoever. In Copiphoras the cochlear fluid is physically isolated from the circulatory system. This implies that motions and physical perturbations that occur in either of the systems do not affect the other one. We have observed high variability in the rheological properties of the AV fluid. We are still assessing how much of this variability is due to the precision of the microrheological method, but in all measurements the viscosity was at least twice as high as in water. At the wide range of frequencies we have explored (Ø10-2-104Hz), the fluid in the auditory vesicle behaves Newtonianly. This means that no significant elastic component was detected, which has implications for the transmission of traveling waves. Travelling waves in the tympanic membrane of a primitive cricket The article titled 'Auditory mechanics in the Grig (Cyphoderris monstrosa): Tympanal travelling waves and frequency discrimination as a precursor to inner ear tonotopy' is currently under review as an invited resubmission at Proceedings B. This article uses micro-CT scanning and micro-scanning laser-doppler vibrometry to investigate ear function in a relict ensiferan, and compares to the auditory mechanics of modern species to infer how the crista acustica and hearing process has changed over evolutionary time. |
| Exploitation Route | Key findings in hearing The use of 3D printed ear models The 3D model method that we have developed has wide biophysical applications beyond insect science, including advancing ultrasonic detection (e.g. for cetacean conservation, military application), and further biophysical investigations across other taxa. The use of Micro-rheology Results of this part will be published in scientific journals. In addition, we expect that the methodology we are developing will be invaluable in other fields in which the rheology of tiny volumes of fluid needs to be ascertained (e.g. microbial ecology, physiology, biomedecine...), and thus we aim to publish the protocols as well as the Matlab code generated in online open repositories by the end of the present year. This work is targeting Objective 2 (Evolution of ensiferan hearing organs and auditory signal processing mechanisms), and is part of the Research Approach 4.3 (Morphological and biophysical data generation), where we aim to measure the inner ear response to tympanal vibrations. Results are very encouraging and proceed at a good pace, but the work is still ongoing, as the researcher responsible for it (Òscar Guadayol) started his contract on August last year. Key findings in sound production mechanisms Advanced method for sound reconstruction may allow further extinct taxa sounds to be reconstructed in the future, to advance our understanding of ancient soundscapes. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | Part of the impact emerged from this research relates to politic and policy makers, as described in the section Influence on Policy, Practice, Patients & the Public, for the Havana syndrome and the new legislations of the US government in response to the Sonic Attack situation. But our use of 3D printed geometries is having considerable impact on the use of Museum specimens for peripheral hearing research, and we envisage a strong impact on the 3Rs, in the reduction, refinement and replacement of animals in scientific research. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | The impact and relevance of bioacoustics research in international politics: the Havana syndrome |
| Geographic Reach | North America |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | In late 2016, US diplomats in Cuba started experiencing unexplained health problems including tinnitus, vertigo, and cognitive difficulties. Some complained of a preceding "shrill sound" in their homes, which left experts worried that a "sonic attack" might have caused their ailments. The US State Department determined that the incidents were "specific attacks", and responded by cutting its Cuban embassy staff by 60% and expelling 15 Cuban diplomats from Washington, all despite Cuba's fervent denials of wrongdoing. This mysterious case has seen US-Cuba relations plummet from what had been a high point in 2015 when the two countries, estranged for half a century, restored diplomatic ties under President Obama. The high-pitched sound linked to these attacks was recorded by US personnel in Cuba and released by the Associated Press (AP) in 2016. Reviewing US evidence and recording their own data, Cuban scientists suggested in 2017 that the noises may have stemmed from a chirping Jamaican field cricket, a common insect in Cuba. This was dismissed by Washington as the short chirp of the cricket did not match the abrasive continuous drone recorded by US personnel. The associated ERC grant "The Insect Cochlea" involves a broad bioacoustics approach to crickets and bush-crickets in the developmental Work Packages, hence this problem brought the attention of the PI and a collaborator in the USA. Convinced that the AP sound was produced by an insect, they searched databases for acoustic recordings of Caribbean insects, and produced acoustic experiments and simulations to find that the AP recording matched the calling song of the Indies short-tailed cricket Anurogryllus celerinictus. Our findings, available in BioRxiv, caused much debate, and extensive efforts at the US National Academy of Sciences to contradict our findings. Finally, a group of elite scientists, advising the US government, supported our work, which led to President Biden signing the Havana Act in 2021. |
| URL | https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21068770-jason-report-2018-havana-syndrome |
| Description | Biophysical and ecological function of microscale ears using scaled 3D prints |
| Amount | £390,371 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RPG-2023-204 |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Title | Cloning out sequences of mechanosensory proteins |
| Description | Bush crickets (katydids) are relatively large insects, which communicate over long distances by singing across a range of frequencies, including the ultrasonic range in some species. Signal receivers perceive these songs through two complex ears, each of which consists of two tympanic membranes on one of the front legs coupled to a spiracular opening on the side of the thorax via a tracheal tube. Between the tympana on each front leg lies a line of sensory cells called the crista acustica, which converts the travelling fluid waves, themselves a decelerated representation of the outside sound waves, into neural signals that are then transmitted to and interpreted by the central nervous system. Each cell of the crista acustica contains mechanosensory proteins that play a key role in converting the mechanical information of the fluid waves into a neural signal. We have had some success in cloning out sequences for a range of mechanosensory proteins that potentially play a role in bush cricket hearing. We now have partial sequences for nompC, a Piezo channel, and a Prestin-like protein, all for our transparent study species, Phlugis, which we would ordinarily collect from field sites in South America. We also aim to obtain sequence data for Nanchung and Inactive, and to also find the homologous sequences in Mecopoda and Copiphora, which are easier to rear in laboratory culture and will allow us to carry on with our project despite COVID travel restrictions. These sequences will allow a molecular-based approach to investigating the molecular functioning of the ear, including the use of RNAi, qPCR and immunohistochemistry (antibody labelling). The sequences that we already have for Phlugis will allow this approach to begin once we have sufficient numbers in culture. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We expect that by developing the katydid hearing system as a model for acoustic communication and hearing, we will contribute towards a reduced reliance on mammalian (particularly rodent) animal use in invasive experiments. This will be in line with the increased need to reduce the number of vertebrates used in experimental systems, for which Home Office licences are needed. It is possible to investigate the katydid ear in a non-lethal way, because the most interesting features are on the front leg. This is very different from equivalent experiments in rodents, which obviously target the skull and require that the animal be euthanized immediately after data collection. |
| Title | Confocal Microscopy of Taenidia Fibers in the ear canal of katydid and crickets |
| Description | The method provides the protocol to generate high resolution fluorescence images of the molecular composition of single taenidia fibers using confocal laser scanning. Current focus of the study is to investigate resilin and chitin, however the protocol can be applied to any monolayer of trachea fibers with slight adjustments on filter settings. The method aims to identify formation of chitin nanofilaments in the interior of the taenidia, estimate the amount of relisin protein in relation to chitin of a single fiber, and investigate the material composition of the part of the fiber that forms the interior surface of the acoustic trachea. Our approach includes a comprehensive dissection protocol to prepare microsamples of fixed taenidia fiber monolayers and mounting on standard glass slides under specific orientation where the interior surface of the fibers can be identified. Options for autofluorescence and stainning are thoroughly derscribed. By modifying the confocal aperture and adjustments in the pinhole, thin sections of the sample (500nm) supporting the interior structure of the trachea can be imaged with increased resolution. Using z-plane stacking composite images (2D, 3D) of chitin and resilin at different molecular planes can be generated. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The spatial relation between chitin and resilin in single taenidia fibers can be elucidated with the potential to clarify the molecular interplay between the rigidity and elasticity in correlation with nanoscale mechanical data and force measurements. The method can contribute to the understanding of evolutionary development of multifactional biological materials that could lead to significant development of novel biomaterials |
| Title | Confocal microscopy of katydid hearing organ |
| Description | We have used traditional paraformaldehyde fixation and histological staining combined with confocal microscopy to investigate the cellular and extracellular organisation of the katydid hearing organ. Antibodies, stains and/or autofluorescence for Y-tubulin, F-actin, chitin, resilin and extracellular membranes have been applied to fixed tissues, and imaged across 2 micron slices before 3D reconstruction. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We have visualised katydid scolopidial (mechanosensory) cells, including the cilia, at a level of detail never seen before, which should open avenues for investigating the molecular and cellular nature of novel sensory systems. |
| Title | Method developed for 3D printing the trachea in different material |
| Description | A method was developed for 3D printing the acoustic trachea of katydids and crickets, which is an air pipe that connects the tympanal organ with the atmosphere. The structure was printed in different materials using a structured workflow. µCT scans of the trachea were imported into imaging software, such as Dragonfly 3D, where inverse attenuation techniques were applied to identify, isolate, and reconstruct the tracheal structure. A contour mesh was generated to create the 3D model, followed by post-processing steps including mesh decimation and smoothing. The refined model was then exported as an STL file and imported into 3D printing slicer software where the models are scaled for fabrication. For fused deposition modelling (FDM), the trachea was sliced with 0% infill and two outer walls to create a thin, hollow structure. The model was printed vertically with support structures, using a concentric pattern to maintain circular tube shape. In contrast, for stereolithography (SLA), the trachea was also printed in a vertical orientation with supports, hollowed and perforated the wall to allow resin drainage, ensuring internal structural accuracy. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This method allows for katydid or cricket acoustic tracheal (or ear canal) replication across multiple materials to facilitate anatomical studies. The is the first time an insect trachea is printed in scaled models. Since the acoustic trachea is derived from the respiratory trachea, it can be used across any insect species, potentially for research in respiration. In engineering, the acoustic trachea has the role of an acoustic guide that slows down sound velocity and amplifies signal amplitude at the same time. The insect trachea is made of the chitin and resilin (insect rubber), while the latter occurring in higher proportion than resilin. Therefore the different materials tested in the large scale models can eventually help to build better sound guides that do not absorb sound, or let is escape, but deliver it and amplify it properly, for instance in hearing aids. |
| URL | https://bioacousticssensorybiology.weebly.com/research.html |
| Title | Method developed for deep (AI) semantic segmentation and volumetric reconstruction of insect tissue |
| Description | A deep learning-based approach was developed for the semantic segmentation and volumetric reconstruction of insect tissue such as tympana using Dragonfly 3D software. The method employed a U-net deep learning model within the deep segmentation module, enabling iterative refinement for accurate classification of anatomical structures. High-resolution µCT scans of the insect ear were used as input, with a subset of slices manually segmented to create an initial training dataset. The model was trained and refined through multiple iterations, incorporating additional segmented slices to enhance accuracy. Once optimized, the trained model was applied to the full dataset, automating the segmentation process with minimal manual intervention. Following segmentation, a volumetric reconstruction workflow was implemented to isolate and extract the tympana for further structural analysis and 3D printing. The iterative deep learning framework significantly improved segmentation accuracy, efficiency and reproducibility, providing a robust tool for analysing insect auditory anatomy. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Additionally, this approach can accelerate studies in comparative auditory research, bioacoustics, and evolutionary morphology involving complex anatomical structures across a wide range of taxa including reptiles, birds, mammals, and even humans. The ability to generate high-fidelity 3D models opens new avenues for medical and bioengineering applications, such as designing biomimetic hearing devices or improving clinical imaging techniques for diagnosing auditory conditions. |
| URL | https://bioacousticssensorybiology.weebly.com/research.html |
| Title | New histological technique in bush crickets ears |
| Description | We have started to optimise a recent histological technique in bush crickets. Known as DEEP-Clear (Pende et al., 2020), this process removes pigmentation from fixed tissues to allow for high-quality microscopic imaging. This will allow us to characterise the structure of the katydid ear using both histological stains and immunohistochemistry. This will be particularly useful for assessing the properties of the tectorial membrane, which is attached to the cells of the crista acustica but remains a relatively uncharacterised structure within the insect ear. We are currently optimising DEEP-Clearing in lab-reared katydids, especially the large Copiphora species. We also spent a week in Didcot at the Diamond Light Source national synchrotron facility where we performed pilot studies for future imaging projects. We aim to go back to DLS at some point in 2021, depending on the COVID-19 situation throughout the year. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | By developing the katydid hearing system as a model for acoustic communication and hearing, we can potentially reduce the number of vertebrates used in experimental systems, which require Home Office licences and specialised rearing facilities. |
| Title | Rheological characterization of ear fluids and hemolymph in Ensifera |
| Description | Multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPTM) of the hemolymph (1) and the fluid acoustic vesicle (2). The fluid of interest is mixed with very small volumes (~1 pL) of a highly concentrated aqueous suspension of 1.02µm fluorescent microspheres (Fluoresbrite® YG Carboxylate Microspheres, Polysciences Inc.). Samples are then placed on an inverted epifluorescence microscope (Zeiss AxioVert A1 Fl), which is equipped with an LED source (CoolLED pE-300 white) and a temperature controlling stage and mounted on an antivibration table to eliminate environmental noise. Videos are then recorded at 00X magnification with a long-distance objective (ZeissLD Plan-Neofluor 40x/0.6NA Corr) with an ultra high speed camera (Photron FASTCAM MINI UX100). Microspheres are tracked as they undergo Brownian motion using in-house Matlab code. From the frequency-dependent mean square displacements (MSD) it is possible to construct spectra of the viscoelastic moduli of the fluid of interest. Currently, using this setup we have been able to obtain spectra spanning more than 4 orders of magnitude of frequency (from 1 to 50000Hz). In the case of hemolymph (1) the sample is extracted from the specimen using a capillary previously seeded with the suspension of microspheres, and visualized directly on the capillary. To minimize optical distortions we used capillaries with a square cross-section (CM scientific). In the case of the fluid in the acoustic vesicle, the volume is too small (ØnL) to perform an extraction. To overcome this we have develop a protocol to perform microrheology in situ and in vivo. The suspension of microspheres is injected into the vesicle using a pneumatic microinjection system (PV830 Picopump, WPI). Capillaries are previously pulled using a P-97 micropipette puller (Sutter Inc.). Each capillary was calibrated individual before its use by injecting the microspheres suspension within mineral oil and measuring the diameter of the droplets. The specimen is then placed under the microscope. The cuticle in these species is transparent enough that the fluorescent microspheres can be visualized through it. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This is the first time, to our knowledge, that microrheological methods are applied to the study of insects. We are now obtaining the first measurements of the viscoelastic properties of fluids in live katydids. Our preliminary results show that both the hemolymph and the acoustic vesicle fluid behave as Newtonian fluids at a wide range of frequencies, and are several times more viscous than water. Furthermore, we have unequivocally shown that the acoustic vesicle of the katydids Phlugis spp and Copiphora spp., who have highly evolved hearing systems, is not linked to the circulatory system of the organism. The in situ microrehology procedure we have developed will allow not just measuring average viscoselasticity moduli but also mapping of viscosity within the organ, assessment of anisotropy and characterization of fluid dynamics in response to acoustic stimuli. The method will be described and will be available upon publication. |
| Title | Used of scaled 3D-geometries of insect ears to assess hearing capabilities and ecological interactions |
| Description | Since the last report for this project, a great deal of progress has been made in the geometric measurement of the ensiferan hearing system by means of micro-CT scanning and reconstruction. Micro-CT reconstruction of the acoustic tracheae, and associated measurements such as trachea length, volume, and cross-sectional area have been made for over 150 species, representing nearly 300 individual tracheae. The dataset primarily constitutes members of the Tettigoniidae, which display the clearest acoustic tracheal systems of ensiferan orthopterans, for which 12 of the 18 extant subfamilies are currently represented in the dataset. We have also recently been able to extend this dataset into the evolutionary history of the Ensifera, by means of micro-CT scanning and reconstructing the trachea of amber fossils aged from 45-40 million years old. Moving forward, extending the fossil dataset will permit greater evolutionary inferences of the biophysical adaptations of the ensiferan ear through history. As well as the acoustic tracheae, we have been able to reconstruct the external auditory pinnae of many species, which have been 3D printed for future biophysical experimentation. This recently developed methodology [Pulver at al. (doi:10.1101/2021.09.01.458595) in review in e-Life] has demonstrated that it is possible to use scaled 3D models of ensiferan auditory components to investigate hearing in ways not possible in live insects. The recent work suggests that the pinnae of neotropical tettigoniids function for enhanced detection of ultrasounds, to act as an early warning system against echolocating bats. |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | By utilizing the extensive 3D dataset already collected for the trachea measurements, the project will be able to characterize the morphological and functional diversity of these pinnae in the very near future. At the moment we are implementing this innovative technique in amber fossils, to infer hearing ranges and other aspects of the acoustic ecology in extinct environments. Apart from the micro-CT and 3D printing costing, this technique only requires audio equipment to study ultrasonic signals (as the sound wavelength is also downscaled to match the scaled ear), therefore can be of interest to many research groups interested in ultrasound hearing, especially in those ear structures difficult to access in living animals. |
| URL | https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.01.458595v4 |
| Title | micro-CT and 3D reconstruction of acoustic tracheal (or ear canal) diversity |
| Description | Micro-CT scanning of the trachea of orthopteran insects. Following removal from their storage in 80-100% ethanol, specimens are placed on dry paper towel to allow time for external ethanol to evaporate. Specimens are then held at the acoustic spiracle with a cotton q-tip to remove ethanol from within the acoustic trachea. Before the rest of the specimen dries out and ethanol leaves the soft tissues, which likely would take just under an hour in the largest species, the specimens are placed in a custom build holder for micro-CT scanning. The scans are completed at 50-55 kV, and 180-200 micro-amps, at a pixel size of 12-13 microns, with a 600 ms camera exposure and rotation steps of 0.2 degrees from 0 to 180 degrees. These settings permit a 20-30 minute scan, allowing for imaging of the acoustic tracheal system before the specimen starts to move in the scanner as it dries out. Once the scan is complete, further measurements are made such as body size and leg length, before the specimen can return to the ethanol with no damage to the sample. Following scanning, data can be segmented in Amira 9.4, to extract the geometry of the acoustic trachea. We can then measure the volume, length, and radius of the trachea, and extract the data and 3D images for the cross-species and inter-disciplinary comparison. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We have found that we are able to obtain the geometry of the ear canal of these insects in quite old specimens, dating back to 1997 at the earliest so far. This is surprising given that the structures are made of soft tissue, but is very fortunate as it means we can take advantage of existing stored specimens to greatly enhance the size and diversity of the dataset. The 3D geometries are being used for numerical modelling, therefore such data set also will have impact in the 3Rs research as a form of reducing experimental animals. The method will be described and will be available upon publication. |
| Title | Wing mechanics and acoustic communication of a new genus of sylvan katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) from the Central Cordillera cloud forest of Colombia |
| Description | Stridulation is used by male katydids to produce sound via the rubbing together of their specialised forewings, either by sustained or interrupted sweeps of the file producing different tones and call structures. This study aims to measure and quantify the mechanics of wing vibration, sound production and acoustic properties of the hearing system in a new genus of Pseudophyllinae. The calling behaviour and wing mechanics of males were studied using micro-scanning laser Doppler vibrometry, microscopy, and ultrasound sensitive equipment. The resonant properties of the acoustic pinnae of the ears were obtained via µ-CT scanning and 3D printed experimentation. Analysis of sound recordings and wing vibrations reveal that the stridulatory areas of the right tegmen exhibit relatively narrow frequency responses and produce narrowband calls between 12 and 20 kHz. As in most Pseudophyllinae, only the right mirror is activated for sound production. The acoustic pinnae of all species were found to provide a broadband increased acoustic gain from ~40 - 120 kHz, by up to 25 dB. Under laboratory conditions the calling song duty cycle is relatively constant, with males spending most of the night singing from the burrows they guard and protect. The new genus, named Satizabalus, is here derived as a new polytypic genus from the existing genus Gnathoclita, based on morphological and acoustic evidence from one described (S. sodalis) and two new species (S. jorgevargasi, S. hauca). Unlike most Tettigoniids, Satizabalus exhibits a particular form of sexual dimorphism whereby the heads and mandibles of the males are greatly enlarged compared to the females. We suggest that Satizabalus is related to the genus Trichotettix, also found in cloud forests in Colombia, and not to Gnathoclita. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The use of scaled 3D-printed geometries of insect ears for acoustic studies using proportionally scale sound waves, might have an impact on the reaction of living animals in research. |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_b_Wing_mechanics_hearing_and_bioacoustics_of_a_new_genus_of_s... |
| Title | Changes in wing resonance in dried preserved crickets |
| Description | Male crickets sing to attract females for mating. Sound is produced by tegminal stridulation, one wing bears a plectrum and the other a wing vein modified with cuticular teeth. The carrier frequency (fc) of the call is dictated by the wing resonance and the rate of tooth strikes. Therefore, the fc varies across species due to the size of the vibrating membranes and/or the speed of tooth strikes. But how well is the resonant frequency (fo) conserved in dried preserved specimens? This project is designed to investigate the gradual change in cricket wing fo over time with aims to produce equations that help to predict or recover the original natural frequency of wing vibration in preserved crickets and allies. Using Laser Doppler vibrometry we scanned the wings of living specimens to determine their fo, the specimens were then preserved allowing us to continue measuring the wings fo as they desiccate. We found that after the first week, fo increases steeply, reaching plateau and stabilising for the following months. We go on to propose a model that can be used to recover the main fo of the wings of preserved Ensifera that use pure tones for communication. Models were corroborated using preserved specimens previously recorded and mounted in dry collections for more than 10 years. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We developed a method to recover the carrier frequency in dry preserved museum specimens (katydids, crickets and allies), using laser doppler vibrometry and numerical models. This opens opportunity for museum research, using preserved specimens, then its importance on the 3Rs. The method allows large studies of diversity using bioacoustics approach, and is relevant as it also allows researchers to infer song frequencies of insects that were collected long time ago, even in species that are be extinct now. |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Changes_in_wing_resonance_in_dried_preserved_crickets/26150842 |
| Title | Changes in wing resonance in dried preserved crickets |
| Description | Male crickets sing to attract females for mating. Sound is produced by tegminal stridulation, one wing bears a plectrum and the other a wing vein modified with cuticular teeth. The carrier frequency (fc) of the call is dictated by the wing resonance and the rate of tooth strikes. Therefore, the fc varies across species due to the size of the vibrating membranes and/or the speed of tooth strikes. But how well is the resonant frequency (fo) conserved in dried preserved specimens? This project is designed to investigate the gradual change in cricket wing fo over time with aims to produce equations that help to predict or recover the original natural frequency of wing vibration in preserved crickets and allies. Using Laser Doppler vibrometry we scanned the wings of living specimens to determine their fo, the specimens were then preserved allowing us to continue measuring the wings fo as they desiccate. We found that after the first week, fo increases steeply, reaching plateau and stabilising for the following months. We go on to propose a model that can be used to recover the main fo of the wings of preserved Ensifera that use pure tones for communication. Models were corroborated using preserved specimens previously recorded and mounted in dry collections for more than 10 years. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The technique published in this research opened new research paths on acoustic recovery of conspecific calls in crickets and allies forms, using museum collections. This also provides a good justification for museum collections and their importance in biodiversity and ecological studies. |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Changes_in_wing_resonance_in_dried_preserved_crickets/26150842... |
| Title | Data for: Ear pinnae in a neotropical katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) function as ultrasound guides for bat detection |
| Description | Early predator detection is a key component of the predator-prey arms race and has driven the evolution of multiple animal hearing systems. Katydids (Insecta) have sophisticated ears, each consisting of paired tympana on each foreleg that receive sound both externally, through the air, and internally via a narrowing ear canal running through the leg from an acoustic spiracle on the thorax. These ears are pressure-time difference receivers capable of sensitive and accurate directional hearing across a wide frequency range. Many katydid species have cuticular pinnae which form cavities around the outer tympanal surfaces, but their function is unknown. We investigated pinnal function in the katydid Copiphora gorgonensis by combining experimental biophysics and numerical modelling using 3D ear geometries. We found that the pinnae in C. gorgonensis do not assist in directional hearing for conspecific call frequencies, but instead act as ultrasound detectors. Pinnae induced large sound pressure gains (20-30 dB) that enhanced sound detection at high ultrasonic frequencies (>60 kHz), matching the echolocation range of co-occurring insectivorous gleaning bats. These findings were supported by behavioural and neural audiograms and pinnal cavity resonances from live specimens, and comparisons with the pinnal mechanics of sympatric katydid species, which together suggest that katydid pinnae primarily evolved for the enhanced detection of predatory bats. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Our new methodologies for conducting scaled biophysical experimentation on 3D printed models rather than real insects realistically reduces the requirements of live insects for this research. While live animals may still be required to enhance the dataset into the future, these novel methodologies could be utilised to first search through natural history collections to see if it is possible to obtain future data in collection specimens. |
| URL | http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.k0p2ngf8x |
| Title | Data set for: Beyond the exponential horn: a bush-cricket with ear-canals which function as coupled resonators |
| Description | This data provides the computational models used for obtaining the results presented in the paper. The data file also contains the files required for the domain (precise bush-cricket trachea geometry). |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The data has been consulted 92 times with two downloads. |
| URL | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rsos.220532 |
| Description | Dynamic experiments of wing motion during sound production on crickets |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Hub |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of the proposed collaboration is to image and study how the cricket wing can be used for multiple functions - that of flight and singing. This project will leverage and further optimise the application of time-resolved X-ray microtomography as a key method for the study of complex repetitive motions in microscopic biomechanical systems, beyond those that are periodic. The PI's lab has developed a neurophysiology technique that elicit sound production in male crickets. This technique induce stridulation in crickets for long periods, allowing any dynamic experiment using X-ray in the synchrotron. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners obtained living crickets, maintained them in captivity to produce healthy adults. They also handled the two rounds of PSI project approval. They also developed a novel scanning and reconstruction protocol that allowed us to image the semi-periodic biomechanical patterns of live, singing crickets, which permits to reconstruct the muscular motion associated to sound production, in 3D. |
| Impact | No outputs published yet, but we are waiting for the following section at the PSI to produce relevant papers. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Evidence for convergent evolution of harmonic hopping and multiple origins of high-frequency calls in crickets |
| Organisation | National History Museum, Paris, France |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration is between the PI's lab and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Paris (Prof. Tony Robillard and his PhD. student Teddy Gaiddon). They stud a groups of crickets (Eneopterinae) that differ from most crickets in that they evolved high frequency (HF) sound communication. The questions study in this collaborations are: 1) How are HF calls produced in Pseudolebinthus in regard to the unique features of their forewings? 2 Considering morphological, acoustical, and biomechanical lines of evidence, what is the origin of HF songs in eneopterine crickets? Did HF calling via harmonic hopping evolve once in the ancestor of a larger clade (H0) or multiple times independently within the tribes Eneopterini, Xenogryllini and Lebinthini (H1)? The PI's lab produced the Laser Doppler vibrometry to study wing resonances and well as the Micro-CT scan and 3D reconstruction of wing for further numerical modelling, to present acoustic evidence that the calls are indeed a result of harmonic frequency hopping from an ancestral low-frequency fundamental to its fourth harmonic. The PI and PDRA Charlie Woodrow advise student Teddy Gaiddon on the numerical analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our colleagues in Paris conduct field trips to Malawi, East Africa (export permit number EAD-12-07-087-18-20a from the Forestry Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM)), maintain colonies of these insects and produce call recordings. Student Teddy Gaiddon is currently being trained in the numerical analysis process using COMSOL. They also provide morphological and biomechanical support for a mechanism explaining the observed frequency jump. Using phylogenetic analyses, they show harmonic hopping events in eneopterine crickets occurred multiple times in various acoustical and morphological contexts independently, thereby constituting an example of convergent evolution of an acoustic trait. |
| Impact | A research paper is being prepared for the Journal of Experimental Biology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Preliminary studies of hearing loss in insects |
| Organisation | Keele University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | During the NERC grant, attracted by the lab facilities, Dr. Ben Warren (Keele University, UK) visited in several opportunities the lab of the PI's lab at the University of Lincoln, with aims to establish protocols to measure ear damage in Locust exposed to high levels of noise. During this period we organised the ISV conference in Lincoln, 2023, and produced two research papers between the two labs, showing the integration of Laser Doppler Vibrometry and neurophysiology. The Locust, which has a tympanal organ with a simple mechanism for frequency analysis (frequency analysis is done through the thickness gradient of the tympanum), was used to facilitate initial measurements and calibrations, besides it is a model organism. Preliminary results show that the ear is damaged after noise exposure, but recorders normal function after 48 hours of resting. These interesting facts open new research possibilities, and the team is looking now to use a more complex model organism, the katydid, which has a hearing process mechanics more similar to that of mammals (with outer, middle and inner ear components). The collaboration is still ongoing and we are now looking for research funding. |
| Collaborator Contribution | While the PI provided infrastructure and expertise in Laser Doppler Vibrometry, the partner Dr. Warren, brought two of his lab members, and their expertise on electrophysiology and neurobiology. |
| Impact | Austin T T, Woodrow C, Montealegre-Z F & Warren B. 2024. Effects of age and noise on tympanal displacement in the Desert Locust. Journal of Insect Physiology. 152: 104595. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104595. Multidisciplinary: Biophysics, and neurobiology. Blockley A, Ogle D, Woodrow C, Montealegre-Z F, Warren B. 2022. Physiological changes throughout an insect ear due to age and noise - a longitudinal study. iScience. 25: 104746. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104746. Multidisciplinary: Biophysics, and neurobiology. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Reconstruction of acoustic behaviour in Museum specimens of extinct and alive forms of Ensifera insects (crickets and bush crickets) |
| Organisation | Natural History Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Working on reconstruction of the sound of a 150 year old insect, to better understand acoustic communication in ancient ensiferans. The species Prophalangopsis obscura is known from only a single specimen, housed at the NHM London. We have borrowed the specimen to image the sound production organs (fore wings) using our Alicona 3D surface scanning equipment, and scanned these wings using laser-doppler vibrometry. This information will be used to reconstruct the song of the species. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Researching the history of the specimen of Prophalangopsis obscura. Trying to figure out the history of this specimen will allow for better identification of the region in which it was collected, and may still exist. This information will also form part of a small report kept in the museum's data repository for future curators interested in the specimen. In combination with results from our experiments, this will allow us to better understand the history of this elusive group of insects. |
| Impact | A paper was published in PLoS ONE 17(8): e0270498. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270498. This collaboration is multidisciplinary operating in the interface of Evolutionary Biology, taxonomy, biophysics and engineering. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The clockwork cricket: a study on the escapement mechanism used by field crickets |
| Organisation | University of Neuchatel |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Micromechanical and Horological Design Laboratory, in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, is led by Prof. Charles Bauer, are interested in designing silent escapement mechanisms, as alternative to the traditional escarpments used in mechanical watches. They read our recent contributions on sand production crickets, which used an analogue escapement to control their carrier frequencies at around 5 kHz. We have started drafting a research plan and write a grant for this project. The PI's lab contribution will envolved the High Speed vide recording, close up view of plectrum deformation across individual stridulatory file teeth and the biophysics involved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners in Switzerland will produce analogues models of our system at large scale, and robotic models of the crickets. |
| Impact | The collaboration does not have outputs yet, but we have started drafting a grant proposal, for potential industrial collaboration between the UK and Switzerland. This collaboration is multidisciplinary, involving bioacoustics, biophysics, biomechanics, numerigcalmodelling and mechanical engineering. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Activity for 10th year high School students at Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Candelaria, Valle, Colombia. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Talk on sound production and hearing in Insects, and hands-on activity on acoustic levitation. Prof. Montealegre-Z delivered a general talk about acoustic communication in bushcrickets (insects related to crickets), how they sing, how they communicate, and how they detect acoustic predators. The talk also covered the importance of bioacoustics and its applications to human life, showing the last findings of the lab on animal hearing, a project funded by the NERC and European Research Council. The talk was followed by a hands-on activity on acoustic levitation where students and teaching staff were be able to participate, learning about sound pressure, frequency and wavelengths. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Auditory mechanics in a primitive insect |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | PDRA and PI presented an interactive poster in this event, aimed at networking between academics and the industry sector. There was over 150 people, and several gourd were interested in our approach to numerical modelling using the Finite Element Analysis method. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | College of Science Research Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This is part of an annual showcase organised by the Research and Enterprise Department of the University of Lincoln. We invited external industry guests, and there were different forms of engagement, from general talks, poster and hands on activities for the guests. The Pi's lab participated with two posters and a hands on activity. One poster relates to the findings on a new approach to measure resilin (insect rubber protein) and chitin (this findings were formally published in Acta Biomaterialia, 2022). We also presented another paper describing our new findings on katydid hearing and their passive bat detectors. The work of former PDRA Dr. Charlie Woodrow. The show case was a demonstration of the latter, using our pioneer research using scaled 3D printed models for hearing research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Interview for International News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | During the press release of our journal article: Woodrow C. Baker E, Jonsson T, & Montealegre-Z F. 2022. Reviving the sound of a 150-year-old insect: the bioacoustics of Prophalangopsis obscura (Ensifera: Hagloidea). PLoS ONE 17(8): e0270498. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270498, PDRA Charlie Woodrow and first author of the paper and the PI gave an interview to the New York Times (journalist Jack Tamisiea) on the 5th of August, 2022. The interview was quickly disseminated and |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/science/singing-insect-wing-sound.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAA... |
| Description | Journalists and media consultation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Reported Dan Vergano consulted the PI to inform that the US government, though the JASON group had supported our research showing that the the AP agency sound recorded attributed to the sonic attach to the US diplomats was only a male cricket singing. He also pointed the fact that the US House of Representatives voted 427-0 to pass a "Havana Act". Mr. Vergano wanted to asked my opinion on the matter, mostly the PI personal views and feelings about of being supported in a research aspect that was contradicted before. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/havana-syndrome-jason-crickets |
| Description | Live demonstrations of acoustic experiments in 3D printed insects ears |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | During the First Bioacoustics conference, PDRA Charlie Woodrow and PI were given a stand to demonstrate how hearing experiments could be conducted on scaled 3D printed geometries of insects ears. For most people this was a completely different approach to bioacoustics. Another impact was that the demonstration also provide new views to people in the use of preserved Museum specimens, which can be scanned using micro-CT, printed in 3D and used in this type of experiments. This obviously has an impact on the 3Rs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Organisation of the International Conference of Invertebrate Sound and Vibration, 2023, University of Lincoln |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The PI organised the 14th version of the Invertebrate Sound and Vibration conference at his institution, the university of Lincoln, March 29th-April2nd, 2023. This is a specialised conference, on sound production and hearing in invertebrates. The conference was sponsored by the Company of Biologists, and by private companies that support bioacoustics research including, Polytec (Laser Doppler vibrometries), Avisoft (Bioacoustics ultrasound equipment), and Wildlife Acoustics (Ultrasound equipment). The conference was a big success for the community and we sponsored students and provide the hybrid option for those who could not attend in person. Delegates involved the industry supporters, head of the labs but nearly 70% were graduate students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://isv2023.org |
| Description | Sounds of love for tiny listeners: the biophysics of sound production and hearing in katydids and crickets. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Non-Destructive Testing and Bioacoustics SIGs Early Career Researcher (ECR) event. This was a workshop organised by the UKAN + BIO AND NDT ECR, the UK Acoustic network. University of Sheffield. I delivered a talk on bioacoustics and hearing, showing a political impact on policy making of my research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://acoustics.ac.uk/non-destructive-testing-and-bioacoustics-sigs-early-career-researcher-ecr-ev... |
| Description | The Cité Scolaire Brocéliande, School. Comblessac France. 3rd edition of the Human Rights Week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Université de Lincoln << Through the insect ears >> Prof. Montealegre-Z and his student Lewis Holmes, presented a general talk about acoustic communication in bushcrickets (insects related to crickets), how they sing, how they communicate, and how they detect acoustic predators. The talk also covered the importance of bioacoustics and its applications to human life, showing the last findings of the lab on animal hearing, a project funded by NERC and European Research Council. The talk was illustrated with three exhibitions where students and teaching staff were able to participate. The exhibitions immersed students and staff in the world of insect hearing, and its applications, and gave them the opportunity to find out how hearing works at the micro-scale, what exactly it is that insects hear, and how this helps them to communicate with conspecifics, avoid predators and attract mates. By making direct comparisons to human hearing, we showed how convergent evolution has resulted in some insects having remarkably similar 'ears' to us, while explaining how and why specific selection pressures have caused them to evolve some fascinating differences: most notably in their anatomical location (bushcricket ears are found on the legs) and their ability to detect ultrasound, far outside the range humans (and most of their predators) can detect. The three exhibitions involved: 1) Students and staff were able to hear what an insect actually hears. Using live LDV recordings of a dormant locust's ear, visitors made noises or even spoke to the insect and experience through visual and auditory displays how the insect ears captures these sounds. 2) Demonstrating the cryptic nature of bushcricket sounds. Certain insect sounds, used for mate finding, can readily be localised, while others are acoustically cryptic, making them difficult to localise by predators. This activity exploited the exhibition's acoustic environment to test the visitors' ability to locate different bushcricket sounds against a noisy background. 3) Acoustic levitation. A good way to show students what sound is and how visualise its waves is using acoustic levitation, where a set of acoustic ultrasound transducers are arranged in a particular way so that their waves (a same frequency) interact and form nodes where light particles and drops o water cold be trapped in the air. Students had the change to play around with this demo and learned about frequency and wavelengths. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |