A5010999600- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Soil and Land Suitability Analysis
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Diffusion and Search Dynamics
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Robotic Locomotion and Control
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Sports Performance and Training
- Cognitive Science and Mapping
- Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems
- Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
2020-2025
University of Konstanz
2020-2025
Bielefeld University
2022
Collective motion, which is ubiquitous in nature, has traditionally been explained by “self-propelled particle” models from theoretical physics. Here we show, through field, lab, and virtual reality experimentation, that classical of collective behavior cannot account for how motion emerges marching desert locusts, whose swarms affect the livelihood millions. In contrast to assumptions made these models, locusts do not explicitly align with neighbors. While individuals respond moving-dot...
Abstract Desert locust plagues threaten the food security of millions. Central to their formation is crowding-induced plasticity, with social phenotypes changing from cryptic (solitarious) swarming (gregarious). Here, we elucidate implications this transition on foraging decisions and corresponding neural circuits. We use behavioral experiments Bayesian modeling decompose multi-modal facets foraging, revealing olfactory cues as critical. To end, investigate how odors are encoded in system...
Locust swarms can extend over hundred kilometers, and starvation compels this ancient pest to devour everything in its path. Theory suggests that gregarious behavior benefits foraging efficiency, yet the role of social cohesion remains elusive. To end, we collected high-resolution trajectories individual grouped desert locusts a 2-choice assay with patches either similar or different quality. Carefully maintaining animals' identities allowed us monitor each individual's experience estimate...
Abstract A fundamental question in complex systems is how to relate interactions between individual components (‘microscopic description’) the global properties of system (‘macroscopic description’). Furthermore, it unclear whether such a macroscopic description exists and if can capture large-scale properties. Here, we address validity biological using collective motion desert locusts as canonical example. One world’s most devastating insect plagues begins when flightless juvenile form...
Recent advances in calcium imaging, including the development of fast and sensitive genetically encoded indicators, high-resolution camera chips for wide-field resonant scanning mirrors laser microscopy, have notably improved temporal spatial resolution functional imaging analysis. Nonetheless, variability approaches brain structures challenges versatile reliable segmentation methods. Standard techniques, such as manual selection regions interest or machine learning solutions, often fall...
In social species, decision-making is both influenced by, and in turn influences, the context. This reciprocal feedback introduces coupling across scales, from neural basis of sensing, to individual collective decision-making. Here, we adopt an integrative approach investigating dynamical contexts. When choosing shelters, isolated cockroaches prefer vanillin-scented (food-associated) shelters over unscented ones, yet groups, this preference inverted. We demonstrate that inversion can be...
Terrestrial locomotor behavior in variable environments requires resilience to sudden changes substrate properties. For example, walking animals can adjust substantial slope and corresponding load distribution among legs. In insects, slope-dependent adjustments have mainly been examined under steady-state conditions, whereas the transition dynamics largely neglected. a previous study, we showed that of stick insects ±45 deg slopes involve joint torques muscle activity with only minor leg...
Abstract Background Accurate detection of pheromones is crucial for chemical communication and reproduction in insects. In holometabolous flies moths, the sensory neuron membrane protein 1 (SNMP1) essential detecting long-chain aliphatic by olfactory neurons. However, its function hemimetabolous insects role a different nature remain elusive. Therefore, we investigated relevance SNMP1 pheromone insect pest considerable economic importance, desert locust Schistocerca gregaria , which moreover...
1 Abstract Swarms of the migratory desert locust can extend over several hundred square kilometres, and starvation compels this ancient pest to devour everything in its path. Theory suggests that gregarious behaviour benefits foraging efficiency a wide range spatial food distributions. However, despite importance identifying processes by which swarms locate select feeding sites predict their progression, role social cohesion during remains elusive. We investigated evidence accumulation...
A fundamental question in complex systems is how to relate interactions between individual components ("microscopic description") the global properties of system ("macroscopic description"). Another whether such a macroscopic description exists at all and well it describes large-scale properties. Here, we address these questions using as canonical example self-organizing - collective motion desert locusts. One world's most devastating insect plagues begins when flightless juvenile locusts...
1 Abstract Desert locust plagues threaten the food security of millions. Central to their formation is crowding-induced social plasticity from ‘solitarious’ ‘gregarious‘ phenotypes. We investigated impact population density changes on locusts’ foraging choices and neurobiology by examining how relevant odors are coded in antennal lobe. Our analysis shows that gregarious locusts highly attentive cues during foraging, with olfaction playing an essential role. Using calcium imaging, we show...
Locust swarms can extend over several hundred kilometers, and starvation compels this ancient pest to devour everything in its path. Theory suggests that gregarious behavior benefits foraging efficiency, yet the role of social cohesion locust decisions remains elusive. To end, we collected high-resolution tracking data individual grouped desert locusts a 2-choice behavioral assay. Animals had decide between patches either different or similar quality, reliably predicted their by employing...