Acoustic Aposematism, Mimicry, and Sonar Jamming: Efficacy in the Field

食虫蝙蝠和猎物之间的互动是进化军备竞赛的经典例子。蝙蝠开始了这场竞赛，进化出了复杂的生物声纳，可以在完全黑暗的环境中追踪昆虫。夜间飞行的昆虫，包括飞蛾，通过进化声纳探测装置（耳朵）和不稳定的躲避动作来反击。令人印象深刻的特技飞行“狗打架”接踵而至。虎蛾（鳞翅目：熊科）增加了一个新的扭曲的战斗-他们回答蝙蝠与超声波点击产生的专门结构称为鼓膜。该研究小组在过去十年中进行的实验室实验已经证明了点击的一系列令人印象深刻的功能。一些蛾类用它们来警告蝙蝠它们是有毒的。其他可口的虎蛾模仿有毒物种的声音。而且，也许最令人印象深刻的是，一些物种发出不和谐的超声波干扰蝙蝠的声纳。该项目使用最先进的技术深入研究了这个精致的捕食者-猎物系统，首次全面研究了自然条件下的蝙蝠虎蛾战争。首先，使用热红外摄像和语音识别软件，研究人员将测试声学警告，声学模仿和声纳干扰对回声定位策略和觅食能力不同的自然觅食蝙蝠的有效性。这项工作还将揭示迄今为止仍然隐藏的空战细节。其次，研究人员将使用物种特异性分子探针来量化蝙蝠粪便中天然存在的特定蛾类的DNA。研究结果将用于确定虎蛾在逃避捕食时的声学防御的效用。蝙蝠蛾的故事塑造了动物行为的领域，是已知的最复杂的捕食者-猎物相互作用之一。对这些过程的理解不仅可以解释蝙蝠虎蛾进化的迷人细节，还可以说明基本的行为相互作用是如何塑造声学世界的。这个项目最令人兴奋的教育方面是与北卡罗来纳州福赛斯县的SciWorks合作。SciWorks是一个科学中心和环境公园，每年有超过30，000名K-12学生参观。该研究小组将根据我们对蝙蝠蛾的研究，协助SciWorks开发互动展品。

The interactions between insect-eating bats and their prey are a classic example of an evolutionary arms race. Bats began the race with the evolution of sophisticated biosonar to track insects in complete darkness. Night-flying insects, including moths, countered with the evolution of sonar detection devices (ears) and erratic evasive maneuvers. Impressive aerobatic 'dog fights' ensue. Tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) added a new twist to the fray - they answer bats with ultrasonic clicks produced by specialized structures called tymbals. Laboratory experiments by this research group over the past decade have demonstrated an impressive array of functions for the clicks. Some moth species use them to warn bats that they are poisonous. Other palatable tiger moths mimic the sounds of noxious species. And, perhaps most impressively, some species make a cacophony of ultrasound to jam bat sonar. The project delves into this exquisite predator-prey system using state-of-the-art technologies in the first comprehensive study of bat-tiger moth warfare under natural conditions. First, using thermal infrared videography and voice recognition software, the investigators will test the effectiveness of acoustic warning, acoustic mimicry, and sonar jamming against natural foraging bats that differ in echolocation strategies and foraging capabilities. The work will also reveal details of aerial battles that have thus far remained hidden. Second, the investigators will use species-specific molecular probes to quantify the DNA of specific moth species naturally occurring in bat guano. The results will be used to determine the utility of each of the tiger moth acoustic defenses in evading predation. The bat-moth story has shaped the field of animal behavior and is one of the most sophisticated predator-prey interactions known. An understanding of these processes will not only explain the fascinating details of bat-tiger moth evolution, it will also illustrate how fundamental behavioral interactions have shaped the acoustic world.The most exciting educational aspect of this project is a partnership with SciWorks in Forsyth County, North Carolina. SciWorks is a science center and environmental park visited by over 30,000 K-12 students per year. The research group will assist in the development of interactive exhibits for SciWorks based on our bat-moth research.