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

以昆虫为食的蝙蝠和它们的猎物之间的相互作用是进化军备竞赛的一个经典例子。蝙蝠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，用声纳探测装置（耳朵）的进化和不稳定的躲避动作来对抗。令人印象深刻的特技“斗狗”随之而来。虎蛾（鳞翅目：针叶蛾科）为这场战斗增添了新的花样——它们用一种叫做鼓室的特殊结构产生的超声波咔嗒声来回应蝙蝠。在过去的十年里，这个研究小组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。一些飞蛾用它们来警告蝙蝠它们有毒。其他美味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，一些物种会发出不和谐的超声波来干扰蝙蝠的声纳。该项目利用最先进的技术，首次全面研究了自然条件下蝙蝠虎蛾战争，深入研究了这种精致的捕食者-猎物系统。首先，利用热红外摄像和语音识别软件，研究人员将测试声音警告、声音模仿和声纳干扰对不同回声定位策略和觅食能力的自然觅食蝙蝠的有效性。这项工作还将揭示迄今为止一直隐藏的空战细节。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自然存在的特定飞蛾物种的DNA。研究结果将用于确定每种虎蛾在躲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领域，是已知最复杂的捕食者-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如何塑造了声学世界。该项目最令人兴奋的教育方面是与北卡罗莱纳州福赛斯县的SciWorks合作。SciWorks是一个科学中心和环境公园，每年有超过3万名K-12学生参观。研究小组将根据我们对蝙蝠蛾的研究，协助SciWorks开发互动展览。

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.