1
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England SJ, Robert D. Electrostatic pollination by butterflies and moths. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20240156. [PMID: 39044626 PMCID: PMC11267234 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2024.0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals, most notably insects, generally seem to accumulate electrostatic charge in nature. These electrostatic charges will exert forces on other charges in these animals' environments and therefore have the potential to attract or repel other objects, for example, pollen from flowers. Here, we show that butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) accumulate electrostatic charge while in flight. Then, using finite element analysis, we demonstrate that when within millimetres of a flower, the electrostatic charge of a lepidopteran generates an electric field in excess of 5 kV m-1, and that an electric field of this magnitude is sufficient to elicit contactless pollen transfer from flowers across air gaps onto the body of a butterfly or moth. Furthermore, we see that phylogenetic variations exist in the magnitude and polarity of net charge between different species and families and Lepidoptera. These phylogenetic variations in electrostatic charging correlate with morphological, biogeographical and ecological differences between different clades. Such correlations with biogeographical and ecological differences may reflect evolutionary adaptations towards maximizing or minimizing charge accumulation, in relation to pollination, predation and parasitism, and thus we introduce the idea that electrostatic charging may be a trait upon which evolution can act.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J. England
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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2
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England SJ, Robert D. Prey can detect predators via electroreception in air. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322674121. [PMID: 38768327 PMCID: PMC11161757 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322674121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Predators and prey benefit from detecting sensory cues of each other's presence. As they move through their environment, terrestrial animals accumulate electrostatic charge. Because electric charges exert forces at a distance, a prey animal could conceivably sense electrical forces to detect an approaching predator. Here, we report such a case of a terrestrial animal detecting its predators by electroreception. We show that predatory wasps are charged, thus emit electric fields, and that caterpillars respond to such fields with defensive behaviors. Furthermore, the mechanosensory setae of caterpillars are deflected by these electrostatic forces and are tuned to the wingbeat frequency of their insect predators. This ability unveils a dimension of the sensory interactions between prey and predators and is likely widespread among terrestrial animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J. England
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
- Department of Evolutionary Morphology, Museum für Naturkunde–Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin10115, Germany
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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3
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Liu L, Huang B, Lu Y, Zhao Y, Tang X, Shi Y. Interactions between electromagnetic radiation and biological systems. iScience 2024; 27:109201. [PMID: 38433903 PMCID: PMC10906530 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Even though the bioeffects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) have been extensively investigated during the past several decades, our understandings of the bioeffects of EMR and the mechanisms of the interactions between the biological systems and the EMRs are still far from satisfactory. In this article, we introduce and summarize the consensus, controversy, limitations, and unsolved issues. The published works have investigated the EMR effects on different biological systems including humans, animals, cells, and biochemical reactions. Alternative methodologies also include dielectric spectroscopy, detection of bioelectromagnetic emissions, and theoretical predictions. In many studies, the thermal effects of the EMR are not properly controlled or considered. The frequency of the EMR investigated is limited to the commonly used bands, particularly the frequencies of the power line and the wireless communications; far fewer studies were performed for other EMR frequencies. In addition, the bioeffects of the complex EM environment were rarely discussed. In summary, our understanding of the bioeffects of the EMR is quite restrictive and further investigations are needed to answer the unsolved questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyu Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bing Huang
- Brain Function and Disease Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xin-Ling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Yingxian Lu
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yanyu Zhao
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaping Tang
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yigong Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University; Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
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Beetz MJ. A perspective on neuroethology: what the past teaches us about the future of neuroethology. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:325-346. [PMID: 38411712 PMCID: PMC10995053 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-024-01695-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
For 100 years, the Journal of Comparative Physiology-A has significantly supported research in the field of neuroethology. The celebration of the journal's centennial is a great time point to appreciate the recent progress in neuroethology and to discuss possible avenues of the field. Animal behavior is the main source of inspiration for neuroethologists. This is illustrated by the huge diversity of investigated behaviors and species. To explain behavior at a mechanistic level, neuroethologists combine neuroscientific approaches with sophisticated behavioral analysis. The rapid technological progress in neuroscience makes neuroethology a highly dynamic and exciting field of research. To summarize the recent scientific progress in neuroethology, I went through all abstracts of the last six International Congresses for Neuroethology (ICNs 2010-2022) and categorized them based on the sensory modalities, experimental model species, and research topics. This highlights the diversity of neuroethology and gives us a perspective on the field's scientific future. At the end, I highlight three research topics that may, among others, influence the future of neuroethology. I hope that sharing my roots may inspire other scientists to follow neuroethological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jerome Beetz
- Zoology II, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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5
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Kanelis D, Liolios V, Papadopoulou F, Rodopoulou MA, Kampelopoulos D, Siozios K, Tananaki C. Decoding the Behavior of a Queenless Colony Using Sound Signals. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1392. [PMID: 37997991 PMCID: PMC10669568 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees are reported to be the most vital pollinators of agricultural and horticultural crops. However, their widespread decline has raised great attention to the need to monitor their activity in order to identify the causes and implement countermeasures. The recording and analysis of signals used by honeybees for their communication in their hive can be a very helpful tool to the beekeepers for the remote control of the hives. Thus, in the present study, we used a set of sound recording data taken inside the hives to automatically detect the sounds of the bees over a certain period, to distinguish between queenright and queenless states, and to find the gradual changes in the queenless state. Unlike what was commonly believed, noticeable changes in the sound signals of all experimental colonies were observed just one hour after the queens' removal from the hive, while the sound signals were intensified over a period of 5 h, after which the transmitted signal stabilized to the equivalent of a queenless state. The colonies seemed to return to their normal sounds 9-10 days after the reintroduction of the queens in the hives. Our study concluded that timely intervention of the queen's absence combined with the immediate intervention of the beekeeper may be a determining factor in mitigating the adverse effects that occur from the queen's loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kanelis
- Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Aristotle Farm, 57001 Thermi, Greece; (D.K.); (V.L.); (F.P.); (M.-A.R.)
| | - Vasilios Liolios
- Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Aristotle Farm, 57001 Thermi, Greece; (D.K.); (V.L.); (F.P.); (M.-A.R.)
| | - Fotini Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Aristotle Farm, 57001 Thermi, Greece; (D.K.); (V.L.); (F.P.); (M.-A.R.)
| | - Maria-Anna Rodopoulou
- Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Aristotle Farm, 57001 Thermi, Greece; (D.K.); (V.L.); (F.P.); (M.-A.R.)
| | - Dimitrios Kampelopoulos
- Section of Electronics and Electronic Computers, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Kostas Siozios
- Section of Electronics and Electronic Computers, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Chrysoula Tananaki
- Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Aristotle Farm, 57001 Thermi, Greece; (D.K.); (V.L.); (F.P.); (M.-A.R.)
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6
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Hogue J, Cusson P, Meunier M, Seletskiy DV, Reuter S. Sensitive detection of electric field-induced second harmonic signals. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:4601-4604. [PMID: 37656565 DOI: 10.1364/ol.492443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate sensitive electric field measurements by coherent homodyne amplification of the electric field induced second harmonic generation (E-FISH) technique. In the process of E-FISH, an applied electric field breaks the centrosymmetry of an otherwise homogeneous medium, in turn promoting the generation of the second harmonic frequency of an incident field. Due to weak third-order hyperpolarizability and the requirement of an applied field to break the symmetry, the E-FISH technique has been mainly used to study high fields, also requiring a strong optical field and sensitive detection. Here we superimpose the E-FISH signal with an auxiliary beam, also termed a local oscillator (LO), at double the incident frequency. Coherent superposition of the LO and the E-FISH output (LOE-FISH) allows for a homodyne amplification of the otherwise weak nonlinear signal. We have demonstrated an increase of signal-to-noise by a factor of seven, which results in a measurement time reduction of a factor of 49. This technique, LOE-FISH, has a number of advantages: detection with intensified detectors is not required. Furthermore, instead of millijoule pulsed lasers, we can work with microjoule pulsed lasers, which allows measuring at repetition rates of megahertz and opens single shot and real-time capability. The LOE-FISH technique increases in sensitivity at lower electric field values. Our work is a demonstration of the principle. Already with our first results from the demonstration, one can see the high potential of LOE-FISH.
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Palmer RA, O’Reilly LJ, Carpenter J, Chenchiah IV, Robert D. An analysis of time-varying dynamics in electrically sensitive arthropod hairs to understand real-world electrical sensing. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230177. [PMID: 37553992 PMCID: PMC10410214 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
With increasing evidence of electroreception in terrestrial arthropods, an understanding of receptor level processes is vital to appreciating the capabilities and limits of this sense. Here, we examine the spatio-temporal sensitivity of mechanoreceptive filiform hairs in detecting electrical fields. We first present empirical data, highlighting the time-varying characteristics of biological electrical signals. After which, we explore how electrically sensitive hairs may respond to such stimuli. The main findings are: (i) oscillatory signals (elicited by wingbeats) influence the spatial sensitivity of hairs, unveiling an inextricable spatio-temporal link; (ii) wingbeat direction modulates spatial sensitivity; (iii) electrical wingbeats can be approximated by sinusoidally modulated DC signals; and (iv) for a moving point charge, maximum sensitivity occurs at a faster timescale than a hair's frequency-based tuning. Our results show that electro-mechanical sensory hairs may capture different spatio-temporal information, depending on an object's movement and wingbeat and in comparison with aero-acoustic stimuli. Crucially, we suggest that electrostatic and aero-acoustic signals may provide distinguishable channels of information for arthropods. Given the pervasiveness of electric fields in nature, our results suggest further study to understand electrostatics in the ecology of arthropods and to reveal unknown ecological relationships and novel interactions between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Palmer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Liam J. O’Reilly
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Jacob Carpenter
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Isaac V. Chenchiah
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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8
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Ai H, Farina WM. In search of behavioral and brain processes involved in honey bee dance communication. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1140657. [PMID: 37456809 PMCID: PMC10342208 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1140657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bees represent an iconic model animal for studying the underlying mechanisms affecting advanced sensory and cognitive abilities during communication among colony mates. After von Frisch discovered the functional value of the waggle dance, this complex motor pattern led ethologists and neuroscientists to study its neural mechanism, behavioral significance, and implications for a collective organization. Recent studies have revealed some of the mechanisms involved in this symbolic form of communication by using conventional behavioral and pharmacological assays, neurobiological studies, comprehensive molecular and connectome analyses, and computational models. This review summarizes several critical behavioral and brain processes and mechanisms involved in waggle dance communication. We focus on the role of neuromodulators in the dancer and the recruited follower, the interneurons and their related processing in the first mechano-processing, and the computational navigation centers of insect brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Ai
- Department of Earth System Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Walter M. Farina
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, CONICET-UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Pophof B, Henschenmacher B, Kattnig DR, Kuhne J, Vian A, Ziegelberger G. Biological Effects of Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields from 0 to 100 MHz on Fauna and Flora: Workshop Report. HEALTH PHYSICS 2023; 124:39-52. [PMID: 36480584 PMCID: PMC9722389 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000001624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This report summarizes effects of anthropogenic electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields in the frequency range from 0 to 100 MHz on flora and fauna, as presented at an international workshop held on 5-7 November in 2019 in Munich, Germany. Such fields may originate from overhead powerlines, earth or sea cables, and from wireless charging systems. Animals and plants react differentially to anthropogenic fields; the mechanisms underlying these responses are still researched actively. Radical pairs and magnetite are discussed mechanisms of magnetoreception in insects, birds, and mammals. Moreover, several insects as well as marine species possess specialized electroreceptors, and behavioral reactions to anthropogenic fields have been reported. Plants react to experimental modifications of their magnetic environment by growth changes. Strong adverse effects of anthropogenic fields have not been described, but knowledge gaps were identified; further studies, aiming at the identification of the interaction mechanisms and the ecological consequences, are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Pophof
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Bernd Henschenmacher
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Daniel R. Kattnig
- Department of Physics and Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Jens Kuhne
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Alain Vian
- Univ Angers, Institut Agro, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Gunde Ziegelberger
- Competence Centre for Electromagnetic Fields, Department of Effects and Risks of Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
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10
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Thomas MA, Cooper RL. Building bridges: mycelium-mediated plant-plant electrophysiological communication. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2022; 17:2129291. [PMID: 36384396 PMCID: PMC9673936 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2022.2129291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Whether through root secretions or by emitting volatile organic compounds, plant communication has been well-documented. While electrical activity has been documented in plants and mycorrhizal bodies on the individual and ramet, electrical propagation as a means of communication between plants has been hypothesized but understudied. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that plants can communicate with one another electrically via conductively isolated mycelial pathways. We created a bio-electric circuit linking two plants using a mycelial network grown from a blend of mycorrhizal fungi which was directly inoculated onto potato dextrose agar, or onto the host plants placed on the agar. The mycelium that grew was forced to cross, or "bridge," an air gap between the two islands of agar - thus forming the isolated conductive pathway between plants. Using this plant-fungal biocircuit we assessed electrical propagation between Pisum sativum and Cucumis sativus. We found that electrical signals were reliably conducted across the mycelial bridges from one plant to another upon the induction of a wound response. Our findings provide evidence that mechanical input can be communicated between plant species and opens the door to testing how this information can affect plant and fungal physiology.
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11
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The 3D ultrastructure of the chordotonal organs in the antenna of a microwasp remains complex although simplified. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20172. [PMID: 36424494 PMCID: PMC9691716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24390-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect antennae are astonishingly versatile and have multiple sensory modalities. Audition, detection of airflow, and graviception are combined in the antennal chordotonal organs. The miniaturization of these complex multisensory organs has never been investigated. Here we present a comprehensive study of the structure and scaling of the antennal chordotonal organs of the extremely miniaturized parasitoid wasp Megaphragma viggianii based on 3D electron microscopy. Johnston's organ of M. viggianii consists of 19 amphinematic scolopidia (95 cells); the central organ consists of five scolopidia (20 cells). Plesiomorphic composition includes one accessory cell per scolopidium, but in M. viggianii this ratio is only 0.3. Scolopale rods in Johnston's organ have a unique structure. Allometric analyses demonstrate the effects of scaling on the antennal chordotonal organs in insects. Our results not only shed light on the universal principles of miniaturization of sense organs, but also provide context for future interpretation of the M. viggianii connectome.
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12
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Hunting ER, England SJ, Koh K, Lawson DA, Brun NR, Robert D. Synthetic fertilizers alter floral biophysical cues and bumblebee foraging behavior. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac230. [PMID: 36712354 PMCID: PMC9802097 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The use of agrochemicals is increasingly recognized as interfering with pollination services due to its detrimental effects on pollinators. Compared to the relatively well-studied chemical toxicity of agrochemicals, little is known on how they influence various biophysical floral cues that are used by pollinating insects to identify floral rewards. Here, we show that widely used horticultural and agricultural synthetic fertilizers affect bumblebee foraging behavior by altering a complex set of interlinked biophysical properties of the flower. We provide empirical and model-based evidence that synthetic fertilizers recurrently alter the magnitude and dynamics of floral electrical cues, and that similar responses can be observed with the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid. We show that biophysical responses interact in modifying floral electric fields and that such changes reduce bumblebee foraging, reflecting a perturbation in the sensory events experienced by bees during flower visitation. This unveils a previously unappreciated anthropogenic interference elicited by agrochemicals within the electric landscape that is likely relevant for a wide range of chemicals and organisms that rely on naturally occurring electric fields.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Kuang Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Dave A Lawson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | | | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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13
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Levitt BB, Lai HC, Manville AM. Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, Part 2 impacts: how species interact with natural and man-made EMF. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2022; 37:327-406. [PMID: 34243228 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ambient levels of nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) have risen sharply in the last five decades to become a ubiquitous, continuous, biologically active environmental pollutant, even in rural and remote areas. Many species of flora and fauna, because of unique physiologies and habitats, are sensitive to exogenous EMF in ways that surpass human reactivity. This can lead to complex endogenous reactions that are highly variable, largely unseen, and a possible contributing factor in species extinctions, sometimes localized. Non-human magnetoreception mechanisms are explored. Numerous studies across all frequencies and taxa indicate that current low-level anthropogenic EMF can have myriad adverse and synergistic effects, including on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and on vitality, longevity and survivorship itself. Effects have been observed in mammals such as bats, cervids, cetaceans, and pinnipeds among others, and on birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, microbes and many species of flora. Cyto- and geno-toxic effects have long been observed in laboratory research on animal models that can be extrapolated to wildlife. Unusual multi-system mechanisms can come into play with non-human species - including in aquatic environments - that rely on the Earth's natural geomagnetic fields for critical life-sustaining information. Part 2 of this 3-part series includes four online supplement tables of effects seen in animals from both ELF and RFR at vanishingly low intensities. Taken as a whole, this indicates enough information to raise concerns about ambient exposures to nonionizing radiation at ecosystem levels. Wildlife loss is often unseen and undocumented until tipping points are reached. It is time to recognize ambient EMF as a novel form of pollution and develop rules at regulatory agencies that designate air as 'habitat' so EMF can be regulated like other pollutants. Long-term chronic low-level EMF exposure standards, which do not now exist, should be set accordingly for wildlife, and environmental laws should be strictly enforced - a subject explored in Part 3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry C Lai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Albert M Manville
- Advanced Academic Programs, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Policy, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC Campus, USA
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14
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Levitt BB, Lai HC, Manville AM. Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, part 1. Rising ambient EMF levels in the environment. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2022; 37:81-122. [PMID: 34047144 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ambient levels of electromagnetic fields (EMF) have risen sharply in the last 80 years, creating a novel energetic exposure that previously did not exist. Most recent decades have seen exponential increases in nearly all environments, including rural/remote areas and lower atmospheric regions. Because of unique physiologies, some species of flora and fauna are sensitive to exogenous EMF in ways that may surpass human reactivity. There is limited, but comprehensive, baseline data in the U.S. from the 1980s against which to compare significant new surveys from different countries. This now provides broader and more precise data on potential transient and chronic exposures to wildlife and habitats. Biological effects have been seen broadly across all taxa and frequencies at vanishingly low intensities comparable to today's ambient exposures. Broad wildlife effects have been seen on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and longevity and survivorship. Cyto- and geno-toxic effects have been observed. The above issues are explored in three consecutive parts: Part 1 questions today's ambient EMF capabilities to adversely affect wildlife, with more urgency regarding 5G technologies. Part 2 explores natural and man-made fields, animal magnetoreception mechanisms, and pertinent studies to all wildlife kingdoms. Part 3 examines current exposure standards, applicable laws, and future directions. It is time to recognize ambient EMF as a novel form of pollution and develop rules at regulatory agencies that designate air as 'habitat' so EMF can be regulated like other pollutants. Wildlife loss is often unseen and undocumented until tipping points are reached. Long-term chronic low-level EMF exposure standards, which do not now exist, should be set accordingly for wildlife, and environmental laws should be strictly enforced.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Blake Levitt
- National Association of Science Writers, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Henry C Lai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Albert M Manville
- Advanced Academic Programs, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Policy, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC Campus, USA
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15
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Palmer RA, Chenchiah IV, Robert D. The mechanics and interactions of electrically sensitive mechanoreceptive hair arrays of arthropods. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220053. [PMID: 35317646 PMCID: PMC8941402 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent investigations highlight the possibility of electroreception within arthropods through charged mechanosensory hairs. This discovery raises questions about the influence of electrostatic interaction between hairs and surrounding electrical fields within this sensory modality. Here, we investigate these questions by studying electrostatic coupling in arrays of hairs. We establish the notion of sensitivity contours that indicate regions within which point charges deflect hairs beyond a given threshold. We then examine how the contour’s shape and size and the overall hair behaviour change in response to variations in the coupling between hairs. This investigation unveils synergistic behaviours whereby the sensitivity of hairs is enhanced or inhibited by neighbouring hairs. The hair spacing and ratio of a system’s electrical parameters to its mechanical parameters influence this behaviour. Our results indicate that electrostatic interaction between hairs leads to emergent sensory properties for biologically relevant parameter values. The analysis raises new questions around the impact of electrostatic interaction on the current understanding of sensory hair processes, such as acoustic sensing, unveiling new sensory capabilities within electroreception such as amplification of hair sensitivity and location detection of charges in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Palmer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.,School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Isaac V Chenchiah
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Fry Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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16
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Tiraboschi E, Leonardelli L, Segata G, Haase A. Parallel Processing of Olfactory and Mechanosensory Information in the Honey Bee Antennal Lobe. Front Physiol 2021; 12:790453. [PMID: 34950059 PMCID: PMC8691435 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.790453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In insects, neuronal responses to clean air have so far been reported only episodically in moths. Here we present results obtained by fast two-photon calcium imaging in the honey bee Apis mellifera, indicating a substantial involvement of the antennal lobe, the first olfactory neuropil, in the processing of mechanical stimuli. Clean air pulses generate a complex pattern of glomerular activation that provides a code for stimulus intensity and dynamics with a similar level of stereotypy as observed for the olfactory code. Overlapping the air pulses with odor stimuli reveals a superposition of mechanosensory and odor response codes with high contrast. On the mechanosensitive signal, modulations were observed in the same frequency regime as the oscillatory motion of the antennae, suggesting a possible way to detect odorless airflow directions. The transduction of mechanosensory information via the insect antennae has so far been attributed primarily to Johnston's organ in the pedicel of the antenna. The possibility that the antennal lobe activation by clean air originates from Johnston's organ could be ruled out, as the signal is suppressed by covering the surfaces of the otherwise freely moving and bending antennae, which should leave Johnston's organ unaffected. The tuning curves of individual glomeruli indicate increased sensitivity at low-frequency mechanical oscillations as produced by the abdominal motion in waggle dance communication, suggesting a further potential function of this mechanosensory code. The discovery that the olfactory system can sense both odors and mechanical stimuli has recently been made also in mammals. The results presented here give hope that studies on insects can make a fundamental contribution to the cross-taxa understanding of this dual function, as only a few thousand neurons are involved in their brains, all of which are accessible by in vivo optical imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettore Tiraboschi
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Luana Leonardelli
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Albrecht Haase
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
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17
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England SJ, Robert D. The ecology of electricity and electroreception. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:383-413. [PMID: 34643022 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Electricity, the interaction between electrically charged objects, is widely known to be fundamental to the functioning of living systems. However, this appreciation has largely been restricted to the scale of atoms, molecules, and cells. By contrast, the role of electricity at the ecological scale has historically been largely neglected, characterised by punctuated islands of research infrequently connected to one another. Recently, however, an understanding of the ubiquity of electrical forces within the natural environment has begun to grow, along with a realisation of the multitude of ecological interactions that these forces may influence. Herein, we provide the first comprehensive collation and synthesis of research in this emerging field of electric ecology. This includes assessments of the role electricity plays in the natural ecology of predator-prey interactions, pollination, and animal dispersal, among many others, as well as the impact of anthropogenic activity on these systems. A detailed introduction to the ecology and physiology of electroreception - the biological detection of ecologically relevant electric fields - is also provided. Further to this, we suggest avenues for future research that show particular promise, most notably those investigating the recently discovered sense of aerial electroreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
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18
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Perricone V, Santulli C, Rendina F, Langella C. Organismal Design and Biomimetics: A Problem of Scale. Biomimetics (Basel) 2021; 6:biomimetics6040056. [PMID: 34698083 PMCID: PMC8544225 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics6040056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms and their features represent a complex system of solutions that can efficiently inspire the development of original and cutting-edge design applications: the related discipline is known as biomimetics. From the smallest to the largest, every species has developed and adapted different working principles based on their relative dimensional realm. In nature, size changes determine remarkable effects in organismal structures, functions, and evolutionary innovations. Similarly, size and scaling rules need to be considered in the biomimetic transfer of solutions to different dimensions, from nature to artefacts. The observation of principles that occur at very small scales, such as for nano- and microstructures, can often be seen and transferred to a macroscopic scale. However, this transfer is not always possible; numerous biological structures lose their functionality when applied to different scale dimensions. Hence, the evaluation of the effects and changes in scaling biological working principles to the final design dimension is crucial for the success of any biomimetic transfer process. This review intends to provide biologists and designers with an overview regarding scale-related principles in organismal design and their application to technical projects regarding mechanics, optics, electricity, and acoustics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Perricone
- Department of Engineering, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (F.R.)
| | - Carlo Santulli
- School of Science and Technology, Università di Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano 7, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Francesco Rendina
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, URL CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale, Is. C4, 80143 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (F.R.)
| | - Carla Langella
- Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via San Lorenzo, 81031 Aversa, Italy;
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19
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Khan SA, Khan KA, Kubik S, Ahmad S, Ghramh HA, Ahmad A, Skalicky M, Naveed Z, Malik S, Khalofah A, Aljedani DM. Electric field detection as floral cue in hoverfly pollination. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18781. [PMID: 34548579 PMCID: PMC8455601 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98371-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollinators can detect the color, shape, scent, and even temperature of the flowers they want to visit. Here, we present the previously unappreciated capacity of hoverflies (Eristalis tenax and Cheilosia albipila) to detect the electric field surrounding flowers. Using hoverflies as key dipteran pollinators, we explored the electrical interactions between flies and flowers-how a hoverfly acquired a charge and how their electrical sensing ability for target flowers contributed to nectar identification and pollination. This study revealed that rapid variations in a floral electric field were related to a nectar reward and increased the likelihood of the fly's return visits. We found that thoracic hairs played a role in the polarity of hoverfly charge, revealing their electro-mechanosensory capability, as in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Electrophysiological analysis of the hoverfly's antennae did not reveal neural sensitivity to the electric field, which favors the mechanosensory hairs as putative electroreceptive organs in both species of hoverflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahmshad Ahmed Khan
- Laboratory of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Ali Khan
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
- Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Stepan Kubik
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00, Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Saboor Ahmad
- Laboratory of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan.
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Hamed A Ghramh
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afzal Ahmad
- Department of Physics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Milan Skalicky
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00, Prague, Czechia
| | - Zeenat Naveed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, 50700, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Malik
- Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Ahlam Khalofah
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dalal M Aljedani
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Barascou L, Brunet JL, Belzunces L, Decourtye A, Henry M, Fourrier J, Le Conte Y, Alaux C. Pesticide risk assessment in honeybees: Toward the use of behavioral and reproductive performances as assessment endpoints. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 276:130134. [PMID: 33690036 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The growing gap between new evidence of pesticide toxicity in honeybees and conventional toxicological assays recommended by regulatory test guidelines emphasizes the need to complement current lethal endpoints with sublethal endpoints. In this context, behavioral and reproductive performances have received growing interest since the 2000s, likely due to their ecological relevance and/or the emergence of new technologies. We review the biological interests and methodological measurements of these predominantly studied endpoints and discuss their possible use in the pesticide risk assessment procedure based on their standardization level, simplicity and ecological relevance. It appears that homing flights and reproduction have great potential for pesticide risk assessment, mainly due to their ecological relevance. If exploratory research studies in ecotoxicology have paved the way toward a better understanding of pesticide toxicity in honeybees, the next objective will then be to translate the most relevant behavioral and reproductive endpoints into regulatory test methods. This will require more comparative studies and improving their ecological relevance. This latter goal may be facilitated by the use of population dynamics models for scaling up the consequences of adverse behavioral and reproductive effects from individuals to colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Barascou
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France; UMT PrADE, Avignon, France.
| | - Jean-Luc Brunet
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France; UMT PrADE, Avignon, France
| | - Luc Belzunces
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France; UMT PrADE, Avignon, France
| | - Axel Decourtye
- UMT PrADE, Avignon, France; ITSAP-Institut de L'abeille, Avignon, France
| | - Mickael Henry
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France; UMT PrADE, Avignon, France
| | - Julie Fourrier
- UMT PrADE, Avignon, France; ITSAP-Institut de L'abeille, Avignon, France
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France; UMT PrADE, Avignon, France
| | - Cedric Alaux
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France; UMT PrADE, Avignon, France.
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21
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Paffhausen BH, Petrasch J, Greggers U, Duer A, Wang Z, Menzel S, Stieber P, Haink K, Geldenhuys M, Čavojská J, Stein TA, Wutke S, Voigt A, Coburn J, Menzel R. The Electronic Bee Spy: Eavesdropping on Honeybee Communication via Electrostatic Field Recordings. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:647224. [PMID: 33994968 PMCID: PMC8115936 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.647224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a canary in a coalmine warns of dwindling breathable air, the honeybee can indicate the health of an ecosystem. Honeybees are the most important pollinators of fruit-bearing flowers, and share similar ecological niches with many other pollinators; therefore, the health of a honeybee colony can reflect the conditions of a whole ecosystem. The health of a colony may be mirrored in social signals that bees exchange during their sophisticated body movements such as the waggle dance. To observe these changes, we developed an automatic system that records and quantifies social signals under normal beekeeping conditions. Here, we describe the system and report representative cases of normal social behavior in honeybees. Our approach utilizes the fact that honeybee bodies are electrically charged by friction during flight and inside the colony, and thus they emanate characteristic electrostatic fields when they move their bodies. These signals, together with physical measurements inside and outside the colony (temperature, humidity, weight of the hive, and activity at the hive entrance) will allow quantification of normal and detrimental conditions of the whole colony. The information provided instructs how to setup the recording device, how to install it in a normal bee colony, and how to interpret its data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Petrasch
- Department Information Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Greggers
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aron Duer
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zhengwei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Simon Menzel
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Stieber
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Karén Haink
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jana Čavojská
- Department Information Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timo A Stein
- Complex and Distributed IT Systems, Technische Universtät Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophia Wutke
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Voigt
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josephine Coburn
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Randolf Menzel
- Department Biology, Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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22
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Shepherd S, Jackson CW, Sharkh SM, Aonuma H, Oliveira EE, Newland PL. Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Entrain Locust Wingbeats. Bioelectromagnetics 2021; 42:296-308. [PMID: 33822398 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) have been shown to impact the behavior and physiology of insects. Recent studies have highlighted the need for more research to determine more specifically how they affect flying insects. Here, we ask how locust flight is affected by acute exposure to 50 Hz EMFs. We analyzed the flights of individual locusts tethered between a pair of copper wire coils generating EMFs of various frequency using high-speed video recording. The mean wingbeat frequency of tethered locusts was 18.92 ± 0.27 Hz. We found that acute exposure to 50 Hz EMFs significantly increased absolute change in wingbeat frequency in a field strength-dependent manner, with greater field strengths causing greater changes in wingbeat frequency. The effect of EMFs on wingbeat frequency depended on the initial wingbeat frequency of a locust, with locusts flying at a frequency lower than 20 Hz increasing their wingbeat frequency, while locusts flying with a wingbeat frequency higher than 20 Hz decreasing their wingbeat frequency. During the application of 50 Hz EMF, the wingbeat frequency was entrained to a 2:5 ratio (two wingbeat cycles to five EMF cycles) of the applied EMF. We then applied a range of ELF EMFs that were close to normal wingbeat frequency and found that locusts entrained to the exact frequency of the applied EMF. These results show that exposure to ELF EMFs lead to small but significant changes in wingbeat frequency in locusts. We discuss the biological implications of the coordination of insect flight in response to electromagnetic stimuli. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Shepherd
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Suleiman M Sharkh
- Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, UK
| | - Hitoshi Aonuma
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Eugenio E Oliveira
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brasil
| | - Philip L Newland
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, UK
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23
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Hunting ER, Matthews J, de Arróyabe Hernáez PF, England SJ, Kourtidis K, Koh K, Nicoll K, Harrison RG, Manser K, Price C, Dragovic S, Cifra M, Odzimek A, Robert D. Challenges in coupling atmospheric electricity with biological systems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:45-58. [PMID: 32666310 PMCID: PMC7782408 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-01960-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is host to a complex electric environment, ranging from a global electric circuit generating fluctuating atmospheric electric fields to local lightning strikes and ions. While research on interactions of organisms with their electrical environment is deeply rooted in the aquatic environment, it has hitherto been confined to interactions with local electrical phenomena and organismal perception of electric fields. However, there is emerging evidence of coupling between large- and small-scale atmospheric electrical phenomena and various biological processes in terrestrial environments that even appear to be tied to continental waters. Here, we synthesize our current understanding of this connectivity, discussing how atmospheric electricity can affect various levels of biological organization across multiple ecosystems. We identify opportunities for research, highlighting its complexity and interdisciplinary nature and draw attention to both conceptual and technical challenges lying ahead of our future understanding of the relationship between atmospheric electricity and the organization and functioning of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellard R Hunting
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | | | | | - Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Konstantinos Kourtidis
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Demokritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
- ISLP Xanthi Branch, ENTA Unit, ATHENA Research and Innovation Center, Xanthi, Greece
| | - Kuang Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Keri Nicoll
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | | | - Colin Price
- Department of Geophysics. Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Snezana Dragovic
- Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Michal Cifra
- Institute of Photonics and Electronics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Anna Odzimek
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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24
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Savoska S, Fdez-Arroyabe P, Cifra M, Kourtidis K, Rozanov E, Nicoll K, Dragovic S, Mir LM. Toward the creation of an ontology for the coupling of atmospheric electricity with biological systems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:31-44. [PMID: 33236243 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-020-02051-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric electric fields (AEFs) are produced by both natural processes and electrical infrastructure and are increasingly recognized to influence and interfere with various organisms and biological processes, including human well-being. Atmospheric electric fields, in particular electromagnetic fields (EMFs), currently attract a lot of scientific attention due to emerging technologies such as 5G and satellite internet. However, a broader retrospective analysis of available data for both natural and artificial AEFs and EMFs is hampered due to a lack of a semantic approach, preventing data sharing and advancing our understanding of its intrinsic links. Therefore, here we create an ontology (ENET_Ont) for existing (big) data on AEFs within the context of biological systems that is derived from different disciplines that are distributed over many databases. Establishing an environment for data sharing provided by the proposed ontology approach will increase the value of existing data and facilitate reusability for other communities, especially those focusing on public health, ecology, environmental health, biology, climatology as well as bioinformatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snezana Savoska
- University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola, Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia.
| | - P Fdez-Arroyabe
- Geography and Planning Department, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005, Santander, Spain
| | - M Cifra
- Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - K Kourtidis
- Environmental and Networking Technologies and Applications Unit (ENTA), Athena Research and Innovation Center, Xanthi, Greece
- Demokritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
| | - E Rozanov
- PMOD/WRC and IAC ETHZ, Davos, Switzerland
| | - K Nicoll
- Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - S Dragovic
- Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - L M Mir
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Gustave Roussy, Metabolic and systemic aspects of oncogenesis (METSY), 94805, Villejuif, France, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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25
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Tison L, Duer A, Púčiková V, Greggers U, Menzel R. Detrimental effects of clothianidin on foraging and dance communication in honey bees. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241134. [PMID: 33119662 PMCID: PMC7595294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ongoing losses of pollinators are of significant international concern because of the essential role they have in our ecosystem, agriculture, and economy. Both chemical and non-chemical stressors have been implicated as possible contributors to their decline, but the increasing use of neonicotinoid insecticides has recently emerged as particularly concerning. In this study, honey bees were exposed orally to sublethal doses of the neonicotinoid clothianidin in the field in order to assess its effects on the foraging behavior, homing success, and dance communication. The foraging span and foraging activity at the contaminated feeder decreased significantly due to chronic exposure at field-realistic concentrations. Electrostatic field of dancing bees was measured and it was revealed that the number of waggle runs, the fanning time and the number of stop signals were significantly lower in the exposed colony. No difference was found in the homing success and the flight duration between control and treated bees released at a novel location within the explored area. However, a negative effect of the ambient temperature, and an influence of the location of the trained feeder was found. Finally, the residues of clothianidin accumulated in the abdomens of exposed foraging bees over time. These results show the adverse effects of a chronic exposure to sublethal doses of clothianidin on foraging and dance communication in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Tison
- Institute of Biology-Neurobiology, Free University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aron Duer
- Institute of Biology-Neurobiology, Free University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vanda Púčiková
- Institute of Biology-Neurobiology, Free University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Greggers
- Institute of Biology-Neurobiology, Free University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Randolf Menzel
- Institute of Biology-Neurobiology, Free University, Berlin, Germany
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26
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Fleischmann PN, Grob R, Rössler W. Magnetoreception in Hymenoptera: importance for navigation. Anim Cogn 2020; 23:1051-1061. [PMID: 32975654 PMCID: PMC7700068 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-020-01431-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The use of information provided by the geomagnetic field (GMF) for navigation is widespread across the animal kingdom. At the same time, the magnetic sense is one of the least understood senses. Here, we review evidence for magnetoreception in Hymenoptera. We focus on experiments aiming to shed light on the role of the GMF for navigation. Both honeybees and desert ants are well-studied experimental models for navigation, and both use the GMF for specific navigational tasks under certain conditions. Cataglyphis desert ants use the GMF as a compass cue for path integration during their initial learning walks to align their gaze directions towards the nest entrance. This represents the first example for the use of the GMF in an insect species for a genuine navigational task under natural conditions and with all other navigational cues available. We argue that the recently described magnetic compass in Cataglyphis opens up a new integrative approach to understand the mechanisms underlying magnetoreception in Hymenoptera on different biological levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline N Fleischmann
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Robin Grob
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
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27
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Morley EL, Gorham PW. Evidence for nanocoulomb charges on spider ballooning silk. Phys Rev E 2020; 102:012403. [PMID: 32795021 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.102.012403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We report on three launches of ballooning Erigone spiders observed in a 0.9m^{3} laboratory chamber, controlled under conditions where no significant air motion was possible. These launches were elicited by vertical, downward-oriented electric fields within the chamber, and the motions indicate clearly that negative electric charge on the ballooning silk, subject to the Coulomb force, produced the lift observed in each launch. We estimate the total charge required under plausible assumptions, and find that at least 1.15 nC is necessary in each case. The charge is likely to be nonuniformly distributed, favoring initial longitudinal mobility of electrons along the fresh silk during extrusion. These results demonstrate that spiders are able to utilize charge on their silk to attain electrostatic flight even in the absence of any aerodynamic lift.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Morley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - P W Gorham
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2505 Correa Rd., Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA
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28
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Ng L, Garcia JE, Dyer AG. Use of temporal and colour cueing in a symbolic delayed matching task by honey bees. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb224220. [PMID: 32611791 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.224220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are known for their capacity to learn arbitrary relationships between colours, odours and even numbers. However, it is not known whether bees can use temporal signals as cueing stimuli in a similar way during symbolic delayed matching-to-sample tasks. Honey bees potentially process temporal signals during foraging activities, but the extent to which they can use such information is unclear. Here, we investigated whether free-flying honey bees could use either illumination colour or illumination duration as potential context-setting cues to enable their subsequent decisions for a symbolic delayed matching-to-sample task. We found that bees could use the changing colour context of the illumination to complete the subsequent spatial vision task at a level significantly different from chance expectation, but could not use the duration of either a 1 or 3 s light as a cueing stimulus. These findings suggest that bees cannot use temporal information as a cueing stimulus as efficiently as other signals such as colour, and are consistent with previous field observations suggesting a limited interval timing capacity in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Ng
- Bio-inspired Digital Sensing (BIDS) Lab, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jair E Garcia
- Bio-inspired Digital Sensing (BIDS) Lab, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Adrian G Dyer
- Bio-inspired Digital Sensing (BIDS) Lab, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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29
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Koh K, Robert D. Bumblebee hairs as electric and air motion sensors: theoretical analysis of an isolated hair. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200146. [PMID: 32634368 PMCID: PMC7423416 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging bumblebees are electrically charged. Charge accumulation has been proposed to enable their ability to detect and react to electrical cues. One mechanism suggested for bumblebee electro-sensing is the interaction between external electric fields and electric charges accumulating on fine hairs on the cuticular body. Such hairs exhibit several functional adaptations, for example, thermal insulation, pollen capture and notably, the sensing of air motion such as flow currents or low frequency sound particle velocity. Both air motion and electric fields are ubiquitous in the sensory ecology of terrestrial arthropods, raising the question as to whether cuticular hairs respond to both stimuli. Here, a model-theoretical approach is taken to investigate the capacity of bumblebee filiform hairs as electric sensors and compare it to their response to air motion. We find that oscillating air motion and electric fields generate different mechanical responses, depending on stimulus frequency and body geometry. Further, hair morphology can enhance one sensing mode over the other; specifically, higher surface area favours electric sensitivity. Assuming a maximum stable charge on the hair that is limited only by electric breakdown of air, it is expected that an applied oscillating electric field strength of approximately 300 V m−1 produces comparable mechanical response on the hair as a 35 mm s−1 air flow oscillating at 130 Hz—an air disturbance signal similar to that produced by wingbeats of insects within a few bodylengths of the bumblebee. This analysis reveals that bumblebee filiform hairs can operate as bi-modal sensors, responding to both oscillating electric and air motion stimuli in the context of ecologically relevant scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - D Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Vanbergen AJ, Potts SG, Vian A, Malkemper EP, Young J, Tscheulin T. Risk to pollinators from anthropogenic electro-magnetic radiation (EMR): Evidence and knowledge gaps. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 695:133833. [PMID: 31419678 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide urbanisation and use of mobile and wireless technologies (5G, Internet of Things) is leading to the proliferation of anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and campaigning voices continue to call for the risk to human health and wildlife to be recognised. Pollinators provide many benefits to nature and humankind, but face multiple anthropogenic threats. Here, we assess whether artificial light at night (ALAN) and anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (AREMR), such as used in wireless technologies (4G, 5G) or emitted from power lines, represent an additional and growing threat to pollinators. A lack of high quality scientific studies means that knowledge of the risk to pollinators from anthropogenic EMR is either inconclusive, unresolved, or only partly established. A handful of studies provide evidence that ALAN can alter pollinator communities, pollination and fruit set. Laboratory experiments provide some, albeit variable, evidence that the honey bee Apis mellifera and other invertebrates can detect EMR, potentially using it for orientation or navigation, but they do not provide evidence that AREMR affects insect behaviour in ecosystems. Scientifically robust evidence of AREMR impacts on abundance or diversity of pollinators (or other invertebrates) are limited to a single study reporting positive and negative effects depending on the pollinator group and geographical location. Therefore, whether anthropogenic EMR (ALAN or AREMR) poses a significant threat to insect pollinators and the benefits they provide to ecosystems and humanity remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Vanbergen
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Edinburgh EH26 0QB, UK.
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading University, RG6 6AR, UK.
| | - Alain Vian
- IRHS, Université d'Angers, Agrocampus-Ouest, INRA, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, 49071 Beaucouzé, France.
| | - E Pascal Malkemper
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Campus-Vienna-BioCenter 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Juliette Young
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Edinburgh EH26 0QB, UK.
| | - Thomas Tscheulin
- Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, University Hill, GR-81100, Greece.
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31
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Hooven LA, Chakrabarti P, Harper BJ, Sagili RR, Harper SL. Potential Risk to Pollinators from Nanotechnology-Based Pesticides. Molecules 2019; 24:E4458. [PMID: 31817417 PMCID: PMC6943562 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The decline in populations of insect pollinators is a global concern. While multiple factors are implicated, there is uncertainty surrounding the contribution of certain groups of pesticides to losses in wild and managed bees. Nanotechnology-based pesticides (NBPs) are formulations based on multiple particle sizes and types. By packaging active ingredients in engineered particles, NBPs offer many benefits and novel functions, but may also exhibit different properties in the environment when compared with older pesticide formulations. These new properties raise questions about the environmental disposition and fate of NBPs and their exposure to pollinators. Pollinators such as honey bees have evolved structural adaptations to collect pollen, but also inadvertently gather other types of environmental particles which may accumulate in hive materials. Knowledge of the interaction between pollinators, NBPs, and other types of particles is needed to better understand their exposure to pesticides, and essential for characterizing risk from diverse environmental contaminants. The present review discusses the properties, benefits and types of nanotechnology-based pesticides, the propensity of bees to collect such particles and potential impacts on bee pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa A. Hooven
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Priyadarshini Chakrabarti
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Bryan J. Harper
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Ramesh R. Sagili
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Stacey L. Harper
- School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, 116 Johnson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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32
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim G. Frommen
- Division of Behavioural Ecology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Hinterkappelen Switzerland
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
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33
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Kheradmand B, Nieh JC. The Role of Landscapes and Landmarks in Bee Navigation: A Review. INSECTS 2019; 10:E342. [PMID: 31614833 PMCID: PMC6835465 DOI: 10.3390/insects10100342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The ability of animals to explore landmarks in their environment is essential to their fitness. Landmarks are widely recognized to play a key role in navigation by providing information in multiple sensory modalities. However, what is a landmark? We propose that animals use a hierarchy of information based upon its utility and salience when an animal is in a given motivational state. Focusing on honeybees, we suggest that foragers choose landmarks based upon their relative uniqueness, conspicuousness, stability, and context. We also propose that it is useful to distinguish between landmarks that provide sensory input that changes ("near") or does not change ("far") as the receiver uses these landmarks to navigate. However, we recognize that this distinction occurs on a continuum and is not a clear-cut dichotomy. We review the rich literature on landmarks, focusing on recent studies that have illuminated our understanding of the kinds of information that bees use, how they use it, potential mechanisms, and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Kheradmand
- Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - James C Nieh
- Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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34
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Neuroethology of the Waggle Dance: How Followers Interact with the Waggle Dancer and Detect Spatial Information. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10100336. [PMID: 31614450 PMCID: PMC6835826 DOI: 10.3390/insects10100336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Since the honeybee possesses eusociality, advanced learning, memory ability, and information sharing through the use of various pheromones and sophisticated symbol communication (i.e., the "waggle dance"), this remarkable social animal has been one of the model symbolic animals for biological studies, animal ecology, ethology, and neuroethology. Karl von Frisch discovered the meanings of the waggle dance and called the communication a "dance language." Subsequent to this discovery, it has been extensively studied how effectively recruits translate the code in the dance to reach the advertised destination and how the waggle dance information conflicts with the information based on their own foraging experience. The dance followers, mostly foragers, detect and interact with the waggle dancer, and are finally recruited to the food source. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on the neural processing underlying this fascinating behavior.
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35
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Lopatina NG, Zachepilo TG, Kamyshev NG, Dyuzhikova NA, Serov IN. Effect of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Radiation on Behavior of the Honeybee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s0013873819010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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36
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Melrose J. Functional Consequences of Keratan Sulfate Sulfation in Electrosensory Tissues and in Neuronal Regulation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800327. [PMID: 32627425 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Keratan sulfate (KS) is a functional electrosensory and neuro-instructive molecule. Recent studies have identified novel low sulfation KS in auditory and sensory tissues such as the tectorial membrane of the organ of Corti and the Ampullae of Lorenzini in elasmobranch fish. These are extremely sensitive proton gradient detection systems that send signals to neural interfaces to facilitate audition and electrolocation. High and low sulfation KS have differential functional roles in song learning in the immature male zebra song-finch with high charge density KS in song nuclei promoting brain development and cognitive learning. The conductive properties of KS are relevant to the excitable neural phenotype. High sulfation KS interacts with a large number of guidance and neuroregulatory proteins. The KS proteoglycan microtubule associated protein-1B (MAP1B) stabilizes actin and tubulin cytoskeletal development during neuritogenesis. A second 12 span transmembrane synaptic vesicle associated KS proteoglycan (SV2) provides a smart gel storage matrix for the storage of neurotransmitters. MAP1B and SV2 have prominent roles to play in neuroregulation. Aggrecan and phosphacan have roles in perineuronal net formation and in neuroregulation. A greater understanding of the biology of KS may be insightful as to how neural repair might be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Melrose
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia.,Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Northern, Sydney University, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia
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37
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Electric Fields Elicit Ballooning in Spiders. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2324-2330.e2. [PMID: 29983315 PMCID: PMC6065530 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
When one thinks of airborne organisms, spiders do not usually come to mind. However, these wingless arthropods have been found 4 km up in the sky [1], dispersing hundreds of kilometers [2]. To disperse, spiders “balloon,” whereby they climb to the top of a prominence, let out silk, and float away. The prevailing view is that drag forces from light wind allow spiders to become airborne [3], yet ballooning mechanisms are not fully explained by current aerodynamic models [4, 5]. The global atmospheric electric circuit and the resulting atmospheric potential gradient (APG) [6] provide an additional force that has been proposed to explain ballooning [7]. Here, we test the hypothesis that electric fields (e-fields) commensurate with the APG can be detected by spiders and are sufficient to stimulate ballooning. We find that the presence of a vertical e-field elicits ballooning behavior and takeoff in spiders. We also investigate the mechanical response of putative sensory receivers in response to both e-field and air-flow stimuli, showing that spider mechanosensory hairs are mechanically activated by weak e-fields. Altogether, the evidence gathered reveals an electric driving force that is sufficient for ballooning. These results also suggest that the APG, as additional meteorological information, can reveal the auspicious time to engage in ballooning. We propose that atmospheric electricity adds key information to our understanding and predictive capability of the ecologically important mass migration patterns of arthropod fauna [8]. Video Abstract
Spiders detect electric fields at levels found under natural atmospheric conditions Ballooning behavior is triggered by such electric fields Trichobothria mechanically respond to such electric fields, as well as to air flow Electric field and air flow stimuli elicit distinct displacements of trichobothria
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38
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Clarke D, Morley E, Robert D. The bee, the flower, and the electric field: electric ecology and aerial electroreception. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017. [PMID: 28647753 PMCID: PMC5599473 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1176-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Bees and flowering plants have a long-standing and remarkable co-evolutionary history. Flowers and bees evolved traits that enable pollination, a process that is as important to plants as it is for pollinating insects. From the sensory ecological viewpoint, bee–flower interactions rely on senses such as vision, olfaction, humidity sensing, and touch. Recently, another sensory modality has been unveiled; the detection of the weak electrostatic field that arises between a flower and a bee. Here, we present our latest understanding of how these electric interactions arise and how they contribute to pollination and electroreception. Finite-element modelling and experimental evidence offer new insights into how these interactions are organised and how they can be further studied. Focussing on pollen transfer, we deconstruct some of the salient features of the three ingredients that enable electrostatic interactions, namely the atmospheric electric field, the capacity of bees to accumulate positive charge, and the propensity of plants to be relatively negatively charged. This article also aims at highlighting areas in need of further investigation, where more research is required to better understand the mechanisms of electrostatic interactions and aerial electroreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Science Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Erica Morley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Science Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Science Building, 24, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
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Abstract
Electric fish are privileged animals for bio-inspiring man-built autonomous systems since they have a multimodal sense that allows underwater navigation, object classification and intraspecific communication. Although there are taxon dependent variations adapted to different environments, this multimodal system can be schematically described as having four main components: active electroreception, passive electroreception, lateral line sense and, proprioception. Amongst these sensory modalities, proprioception and electroreception show 'active' systems that extrct information carried by self generated forms of energy. This ensemble of four sensory modalities is present in African mormyriformes and American gymnotiformes. The convergent evolution of similar imaging, peripheral encoding, and central processing mechanisms suggests that these mechanisms may be the most suitable for dealing with electric images in the context of the other and self generated actions. This review deals with the way in which biological organisms address three of the problems that are faced when designing a bioinspired electroreceptive agent: (a) body shape, material and mobility, (b) peripheral encoding of electric images, and (c) early processing of electrosensory signals. Taking into account biological solutions I propose that the new generation of underwater agents should have electroreceptive arms, use complex peripheral sensors for encoding the images and cerebellum like architecture for image feature extraction and implementing sensory-motor transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Ariel Caputi
- Departamento de Neurociencias Integrativas y Computacionales Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable. Av. Italia 3318 Montevideo, Uruguay
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40
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Joel AC, Baumgartner W. Nanofibre production in spiders without electric charge. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:2243-2249. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.157594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Technical nanofibre production is linked to high voltage, because they are typically produced by electrospinning. Spiders on the contrary have evolved a way to produce nanofibres without high voltage. These spiders are called cribellate spiders and produce nanofibres within their capture thread production. It is suggested that their nanofibres are frictionally charged when being brushed over a continuous area on the calamistrum, a comb-like structure at the metatarsus of the fourth leg. Although there are indications that electrostatic charges are involved in the formation of the threads structure, final proof is missing. We proposed three claims to validate this hypothesis: 1. The removal of any charge during or after thread production has an influence on the structure of the thread, 2. The characteristic structure of the thread can be regenerated by charging, and 3. The thread is attracted to, respectively repelled from differently charged objects. None of these three claims were proven true. Furthermore, mathematical calculations reveal that even at low charges, the calculated structural assembly of the thread does not match the observed reality. Electrostatic forces are therefore not involved in the production of cribellate capture threads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Christin Joel
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Biology II, Worringerweg 3, Germany
| | - Werner Baumgartner
- JKU Linz, Institute of Biomedical Mechatronics, Altenberger Straße 69, Austria
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41
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Tison L, Hahn ML, Holtz S, Rößner A, Greggers U, Bischoff G, Menzel R. Honey Bees' Behavior Is Impaired by Chronic Exposure to the Neonicotinoid Thiacloprid in the Field. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:7218-7227. [PMID: 27268938 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The decline of pollinators worldwide is of growing concern and has been related to the use of plant-protecting chemicals. Most studies have focused on three neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam) currently subject to a moratorium in the EU. Here, we focus on thiacloprid, a widely used cyano-substituted neonicotinoid thought to be less toxic to honey bees and of which use has increased in the last years. Honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) were exposed chronically to thiacloprid in the field for several weeks at a sublethal concentration. Foraging behavior, homing success, navigation performance, and social communication were impaired, and thiacloprid residue levels increased both in the foragers and the nest mates over time. The effects observed in the field were not due to a repellent taste of the substance. For the first time, we present the necessary data for the risk evaluation of thiacloprid taken up chronically by honey bees in field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Tison
- Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Hahn
- Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophie Holtz
- Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Rößner
- Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Greggers
- Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriela Bischoff
- Julius Kühn-Institut , Institute for Bee Protection, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Randolf Menzel
- Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
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Electric fields of flowers stimulate the sensory hairs of bumble bees. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7020-1. [PMID: 27325771 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607426113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Mechanosensory hairs in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) detect weak electric fields. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7261-5. [PMID: 27247399 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1601624113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) use information from surrounding electric fields to make foraging decisions. Electroreception in air, a nonconductive medium, is a recently discovered sensory capacity of insects, yet the sensory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigate two putative electric field sensors: antennae and mechanosensory hairs. Examining their mechanical and neural response, we show that electric fields cause deflections in both antennae and hairs. Hairs respond with a greater median velocity, displacement, and angular displacement than antennae. Extracellular recordings from the antennae do not show any electrophysiological correlates to these mechanical deflections. In contrast, hair deflections in response to an electric field elicited neural activity. Mechanical deflections of both hairs and antennae increase with the electric charge carried by the bumblebee. From this evidence, we conclude that sensory hairs are a site of electroreception in the bumblebee.
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Newland PL, Al Ghamdi MS, Sharkh S, Aonuma H, Jackson CW. Exposure to static electric fields leads to changes in biogenic amine levels in the brains of Drosophila. Proc Biol Sci 2016. [PMID: 26224706 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural and anthropogenic static electric fields are commonly found in the environment and can have both beneficial and harmful effects on many animals. Here, we asked how the fruitfly responds to these fields and what the consequences of exposure are on the levels of biogenic amines in the brain. When given a choice in a Y-tube bioassay Drosophila avoided electric fields, and the greater the field strength the more likely Drosophila were to avoid it. By comparing wild-type flies, flies with wings surgically removed and vestigial winged flies we found that the presence of intact wings was necessary to produce avoidance behaviour. We also show that Coulomb forces produced by electric fields physically lift excised wings, with the smaller wings of males being raised by lower field strengths than larger female wings. An analysis of neurochemical changes in the brains showed that a suite of changes in biogenic amine levels occurs following chronic exposure. Taken together we conclude that physical movements of the wings are used by Drosophila in generating avoidance behaviour and are accompanied by changes in the levels of amines in the brain, which in turn impact on behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip L Newland
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mesfer S Al Ghamdi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suleiman Sharkh
- Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Hitoshi Aonuma
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
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Gómez-Sena L, Pedraja F, Sanguinetti-Scheck JI, Budelli R. Computational modeling of electric imaging in weakly electric fish: insights for physiology, behavior and evolution. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 108:112-28. [PMID: 25245199 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphysparis.2014.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Weakly electric fish can sense electric signals produced by other animals whether they are conspecifics, preys or predators. These signals, sensed by passive electroreception, sustain electrocommunication, mating and agonistic behavior. Weakly electric fish can also generate a weak electrical discharge with which they can actively sense the animate and inanimate objects in their surroundings. Understanding both sensory modalities depends on our knowledge of how pre-receptorial electric images are formed and how movements modify them during behavior. The inability of effectively measuring pre-receptorial fields at the level of the skin contrasts with the amount of knowledge on electric fields and the availability of computational methods for estimating them. In this work we review past work on modeling of electric organ discharge and electric images, showing the usefulness of these methods to calculate the field and providing a brief explanation of their principles. In addition, we focus on recent work demonstrating the potential of electric image modeling and what the method has to offer for experimentalists studying sensory physiology, behavior and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonel Gómez-Sena
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Sección Biomatemática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Uruguay.
| | - Federico Pedraja
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Sección Biomatemática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Uruguay
| | - Juan I Sanguinetti-Scheck
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Sección Biomatemática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Uruguay
| | - Ruben Budelli
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Sección Biomatemática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Uruguay
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Taylor GJ, Luu T, Ball D, Srinivasan MV. Vision and air flow combine to streamline flying honeybees. Sci Rep 2014; 3:2614. [PMID: 24019053 PMCID: PMC3767942 DOI: 10.1038/srep02614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects face the challenge of integrating multi-sensory information to control their flight. Here we study a 'streamlining' response in honeybees, whereby honeybees raise their abdomen to reduce drag. We find that this response, which was recently reported to be mediated by optic flow, is also strongly modulated by the presence of air flow simulating a head wind. The Johnston's organs in the antennae were found to play a role in the measurement of the air speed that is used to control the streamlining response. The response to a combination of visual motion and wind is complex and can be explained by a model that incorporates a non-linear combination of the two stimuli. The use of visual and mechanosensory cues increases the strength of the streamlining response when the stimuli are present concurrently. We propose this multisensory integration will make the response more robust to transient disturbances in either modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin J Taylor
- 1] Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia [2] ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, The Australian National University. Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
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Vollrath F, Edmonds D. Consequences of electrical conductivity in an orb spider's capture web. Naturwissenschaften 2013; 100:1163-9. [PMID: 24323174 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-013-1120-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The glue-coated and wet capture spiral of the orb web of the garden cross spider Araneus diadematus is suspended between the dry silk radial and web frame threads. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that the capture spiral is electrically conductive because of necks of liquid connecting the droplets even if the thread is stretched. We examine how this conductivity of the capture spiral may lead to entrapment of charged airborne particles such as pollen, spray droplets and even insects. We further describe and model how the conducting spiral will also locally distort the Earth's ambient electric field. Finally, we examine the hypothesis that such distortion could be used by potential prey to detect the presence of a web but conclude that any effect would probably be too small to allow an insect to take evasive action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fritz Vollrath
- Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OXI 3PS, UK,
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48
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Lihoreau M, Raine NE. Bee positive: the importance of electroreception in pollinator cognitive ecology. Front Psychol 2013; 4:445. [PMID: 23882246 PMCID: PMC3713399 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Lihoreau
- School of Biological Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
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