Dear colleagues,
below are several new bioacoustics papers that have been published by
our group at the National institute of Biology (Slovenia) recently,
which might be of interest to you:
Jernej Polajnar, Daniel Svenšek, Andrej Čokl (2012): Resonance in
herbaceous plant stems as a factor in vibrational communication of
pentatomid bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Journal of the Royal
Society Interface (online first), DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2011.0770
Abstract: Pentatomid bugs communicate using substrate-borne vibrational
signals that are transmitted along herbaceous plant stems in the form of
bending waves with a regular pattern of minimal and maximal amplitude
values with distance. We tested the prediction that amplitude variation
is caused by resonance, by measuring amplitude profiles of different
vibrational pulses transmitted along the stem of a Cyperus alternifolius
plant, and comparing their patterns with calculated spatial profiles of
corresponding eigenfrequencies of a model system. The measured distance
between nodes of the amplitude pattern for pulses with different
frequencies matches the calculated values, confirming the prediction
that resonance is indeed the cause of amplitude variation in the studied
system. This confirmation is supported by the resonance profile obtained
by a frequency sweep, which matches theoretical predictions of the
eigenfrequencies of the studied system. Signal bandwidth influences the
amount of amplitude variation. The effect of both parameters on signal
propagation is discussed in the context of insect vibrational
communication.
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Maarten De Groot, Andrej Čokl, Meta Virant-Doberlet (2011): Species
identity cues : possibilities for errors during vibrational
communication on plant stems. Behavioral Ecology 22: 1209-1217, DOI:
10.1093/beheco/arr115.
Abstract: The efficiency of communication depends on the ability of
conspecifics to recognize and locate each other, and the environment can
impose important limitations on reliability of transmitted and received
information. In contrast to the 3D space of airborne sound
communication, substrate-borne vibrational signals are often transmitted
via 1D plant stems and leaf stalks. In such situations, discrimination
between signals emitted from several sources positioned on the same side
of a receiver may be difficult, as the receiver may perceive this
compound signal as emanating from a single source. Here, we examined the
consequences of interactions between conspecific vibrational signals
emitted from 2 sources for recognition of species-specific temporal
patterns. In a 1D environment on a bean plant, males of the southern
green stink bug Nezara viridula perceived conspecific female song
emitted in alternation from 2 sources as a compound song with a signal
repetition time outside the species-specific value and male
responsiveness and the number of males locating a source (conspecific
female) were low. By contrast, when the conspecific song was presented
together with female signals of another stinkbug Acrosternum hilare,
searching activity was not significantly affected. However, when
conspecific and heterospecific signals were overlapping, males made
significant orientation errors and the majority located the
heterospecific source. Because both outcomes, missing a conspecific
female and selecting a heterospecific partner, may ultimately lead to a
reduced reproductive success, the results suggest that the 1D
environment encountered on plant stems and branches imposes important
limitations on vibrational communication system.
----
Maarten De Groot, Andrej Čokl, Meta Virant-Doberlet (2011): Search
behaviour of two hemipteran species using vibrational communication.
Central European Journal of Biology 6(5): 756-769, DOI:
10.2478/s11535-011-0056-2
Abstract: The ability of conspecifics to recognize and locate each other
in the environment depends on the efficiency of intraspecific
communication. We compared the mate searching strategies of southern
green stinkbug Nezara viridula (male searches for a continuously calling
female) and the leafhopper Aphrodes makarovi (partners form a precisely
coordinated duet). Males of both species were tested on plants in
playback experiments. One leaf was vibrated with unaltered conspecific
female signals or with various conspecific signals using modified
temporal parameters. The results showed that the onset of searching was
faster in A. makarovi than in N. viridula. Changes in temporal
parameters of female replies had negative effect on the searching
behaviour of A. makarovi. Males located the source of longer female
replies faster than the short female call and they failed to locate the
source of a female reply with temporal parameters outside the
species-specific values. In contrast, in N. viridula, searching males
successfully located also the source of a female song with parameters
outside the species-specific values. The results are discussed with
regard to male behavioural strategies in species with different
vibrational communication systems and different male mating investment.
----
Maarten de Groot, Maja Derlink, Petra Pavlovčič, Janez Prešern, Andrej
Čokl and Meta Virant-Doberlet (2011): Duetting Behaviour in the
Leafhopper Aphrodes makarovi (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Journal of
Insect Behaviour (online first), DOI: 10.1007/s10905-011-9304-6
Abstract: Mate recognition and location in Cicadellidae is mediated
exclusively via substrate-borne vibrational signals. In the present
study we investigated vibrational signals and mate searching behaviour
of the leafhopper Aphrodes makarovi. We studied mating behaviour and
exchange of vibrational signals between live insects and in playback
experiments. Males emitted long and complex calling signals composed of
several sections. Female reply was long and always overlapped the end of
the male call. The exchange of male and female vibrational signals was a
complex and dynamic interaction during which both partners modified
their signals according to partner’s reply. The duration of female reply
was influenced by the duration of the male call to which she was
responding, while the duration of male call was influenced by the
duration of the previous female reply. Such relationship suggests the
role of sexual selection in the evolution of male vibrational signals.
----
Reprints are available from me (the first article) or Dr De Groot
- the rest).
Jernej Polajnar
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Jernej Polajnar
Oddelek za entomologijo / Department of entomology
Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo / National institute of biology
Večna pot 111
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenija
Tel.: +386 (0)59 232 788
Fax: +386 (0)1 2412 980
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