Unlocking the mechanisms of vibro-acoustic communication in termites

解锁白蚁振动声学通讯机制

• 批准号: DP240101536
• 负责人: A/Prof Sebastian Oberst
• 金额: $ 48.13万
• 依托单位: University of Technology Sydney
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Discovery Projects
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2024-01-01 至 2027-12-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/DP240101536
• 关键词: Unlocking; mechanisms; vibro; acoustic; communication

Our understanding of how termites use microvibrations to communicate is limited, as the generation, transmission and detection of these complex vibrations in substrates at the submillimetre scale are unknown. We aim to develop a fully validated vibro-acoustic termite communication model which will be used in Swårmalätørs to demonstrate their ability to synchronise and mimic collective behaviour. This will be achieved by combining novel acoustic levitation, microsystem analyses and electrophysiology to determine physical properties of termite appendages, sensory and behavioural thresholds; and by considering wave transmission characteristics in wood, friction-adhesion at the termite feet, mandible cutting and soldier alarm drumming.

我们对白蚁如何使用微振动进行通信的理解是有限的，因为在亚毫米尺度上这些复杂振动的产生，传输和检测都是未知的。我们的目标是开发一个完全验证的振动声学白蚁通信模型，将用于Swårmalätørs，以证明他们的同步和模仿集体行为的能力。这将通过结合新颖的声悬浮，微系统分析和电生理学来确定白蚁附属物的物理特性，感官和行为阈值;并通过考虑木材中的波传输特性，白蚁脚的摩擦粘附，下颌骨切割和士兵警报鼓声来实现。