Group 4 2012

Cricket can synchronize with its neighbors in two mechanisms: either shorten or lengthen its chirp interval and length[1]. Interestingly, the synchronization is imperfect[2]. It is believed that female crickets have preference in the leading cricket[3]. Since there are factors affecting the entrainment behavior of crickets such as the volume and spacious distribution[4]. Following crickets can use different strategies to compete with a leading cricket such as calling louder, spacing themselves far or call when a leader is silent[5]. In addition, the acoustic coupling is not global, however, certain short range correlation results in the long range synchronization. Ambient noise is a potential disturbance to the synchronization[6]. From the study of the collective behavior and the underlying mechanism, we would be able to have better understanding how these species interact and also how individuals can affect the global synchronization.

 Many experiments concerning the above behavior reported so far involve either real crickets or only computer simulation[4,7]. However, real crickets make it difficult in controlling desired behaviors. On this aspect, acoustic coupled electronic crickets, like electronic fireflies, have advantages. In addition, researches using this technique are very rare. In our project, we also try to construct a larger number of acoustically coupled electronic crickets with certain restricted conditions with low cost. This will be helpful in future analysis of the acoustic synchronization network and provide a more close simulation of real biological behavior.
 In this project, we will try to build a multi-acoustic-coupled electronic crickets system. With this system, we are going to reproduce some above behaviors.

Reference: [1]: Walker TJ (1969) Acoustic synchrony: two mechanisms in the snowy tree cricket. Science 166:891–894 [2]: Hartbauer M, Krautzer S, Steiner K, Ro¨mer H (2005) Mechanisms for synchrony and alternation in song interactions of the bushcricket Mecopoda elongate (Tettigoniidae: Orthoptera). J Comp Physiol A 191:175–188 [3]: Greenfield MD, Roizen I (1993) Katydid synchronous chorusing is an evolutionarily stable outcome of female choice. Nature 364:618–620 [4] Manfred Hartbauer, Chorus model of the synchronizing bushcricket species Mecopoda elongate ecological modelling 2 1 3 ( 2 0 0 8 ) 105–118 [5]: V. Nityananda, R. Balakrishnan Leaders and followers in katydid choruses in the field: call intensity, spacing and consistency Animal Behaviour Volume 76, Issue 3, September 2008, Pages 723–735 [6] M. Hartbauer, M. E. Siegert, I. Fertschai and H. Römer Acoustic signal perception in a noisy habitat: lessons from synchronising insects J Comp Physiol A (2012) 198:397–409 [7]: Vivek Nityananda Rohini Balakrishnan Synchrony during acoustic interactions in the bushcricket Mecopoda ‘Chirper’ (Tettigoniidae:Orthoptera) is generated by a combination of chirp-by-chirp resetting and change in intrinsic chirp rate J Comp Physiol A (2007) 193:51–65