Wind alters landing dynamics in bumblebees

Chang, Jingbo; Crall, James D.; Combes, Stacey A.

doi:10.1242/jeb.137976

Cited by 33 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Smooth sideward motion interlaced the longitudinal velocity in the bees Fig. 2b-f, this lateral “casting” motion is also a common feature noted in previous experiments on bumblebee flight (Chang et al, 2016; Dyhr and Higgins, 2010; Linander et al, 2015; Ravi et al, 2013).…”

Section: Approachsupporting

confidence: 79%

Gap perception in bumblebees

Ravi

Bertrand

Siesenop

et al. 2018

Preprint

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13 14 A number of insects fly over long distances below the natural canopy where the physical 15 environment is highly cluttered consisting of obstacles of varying shape, size and 16 texture. While navigating within such environments animals need to perceive and 17 disambiguate environmental features that might obstruct their flight. The most 18 elemental aspect of aerial navigation through such environments is gap identification 19 and passability evaluation. We used bumblebees to seek insights into the mechanisms 20 used for gap identification when confronted with an obstacle in their flight path and 21 behavioral compensations employed to assess gap properties. Initially, bumblebee 22 33 the gap, in our case, indicated by the optic flow contrast between the region within the 34 gap and on the obstacle, which increases with decreasing distance between the gap and 35 the background wall. As the optic flow contrast decreased the bees spent increasing 36 time moving laterally across the obstacles. During these repeated lateral maneuvers the 37 bees are likely assessing gap geometry and passability. 38 39 40 65 and path planning. For long distance navigation, flying insects might use, apart from 66 vision, other sensory modalities such as odor and geomagnetic fields (Knaden and 67 Graham, 2016) In order for a flying animal to arrive at its intended destination or ensure 68 safe locomotion, at a basic level, the animal needs to process the obstacles that lie in its 69 path and identify gaps. Obstacle and gap detection may thus be considered the most 70

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Section: Approachsupporting

confidence: 79%

Gap perception in bumblebees

Ravi

Bertrand

Siesenop

et al. 2018

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Smooth sideward motion interlaced the longitudinal velocity in the bees (Fig. 2B-F); this lateral 'casting' motion is also a common feature noted in previous experiments on bumblebee flight (Chang et al, 2016;Dyhr and Higgins, 2010;Linander et al, 2015;Ravi et al, 2013). At around 375 mm from the gap, evidence of changes in behavior were first noted as a reduction in flight speed ( Fig.…”

Section: Gap Approachsupporting

confidence: 78%

Gap perception in bumblebees

Ravi

Bertrand

Siesenop

et al. 2019

Journal of Experimental Biology

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A number of insects fly over long distances below the natural canopy, where the physical environment is highly cluttered consisting of obstacles of varying shape, size and texture. While navigating within such environments, animals need to perceive and disambiguate environmental features that might obstruct their flight. The most elemental aspect of aerial navigation through such environments is gap identification and 'passability' evaluation. We used bumblebees to seek insights into the mechanisms used for gap identification when confronted with an obstacle in their flight path and behavioral compensations employed to assess gap properties. Initially, bumblebee foragers were trained to fly though an unobstructed flight tunnel that led to a foraging chamber. After the bees were familiar with this situation, we placed a wall containing a gap that unexpectedly obstructed the flight path on a return trip to the hive. The flight trajectories of the bees as they approached the obstacle wall and traversed the gap were analyzed in order to evaluate their behavior as a function of the distance between the gap and a background wall that was placed behind the gap. Bumblebees initially decelerated when confronted with an unexpected obstacle. Deceleration was first noticed when the obstacle subtended around 35 deg on the retina but also depended on the properties of the gap. Subsequently, the bees gradually traded off their longitudinal velocity to lateral velocity and approached the gap with increasing lateral displacement and lateral velocity. Bumblebees shaped their flight trajectory depending on the salience of the gap, indicated in our case by the optic flow contrast between the region within the gap and on the obstacle, which decreased with decreasing distance between the gap and the background wall. As the optic flow contrast decreased, the bees spent an increasing amount of time moving laterally across the obstacles. During these repeated lateral maneuvers, the bees are probably assessing gap geometry and passability.

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“…How either of these may be affected by fluctuations in the wind field that are ubiquitous in the real-world flight environment, and the ecological consequences of this, remain unknown. Indeed, in the only study that seems to have addressed this to date, Chang et al report that bumblebees ( Bombus impatiens ) landing on flowers shift from a multi-directional landing approach to a unidirectional approach upon the introduction of wind and, furthermore, that bees are unable to perform low-impact landings in windy conditions (Chang et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wind prevents cliff-breeding birds from accessing nests through loss of flight control

Shepard

Cole

Neate

et al. 2019

eLife

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For fast-flying birds, the ability to respond to wind during landing is critical, as errors can lead to injury or even death. Nonetheless, landing ability, and its ecological significance, remain unstudied. We show that for auks, 60% of attempts to land at their cliff nests fail in a strong breeze (80% in near-gale winds). This is most likely because wind interferes with the ability to maintain flight control in the last phase of landing. Their extreme flight costs mean that the energetic penalty for multiple landing attempts is high. We propose that exposure, and ability to respond to, such conditions will influence the suitability of breeding habitat. In support of this (i) auk colonies appear to be orientated away from prevailing winds and (ii) landing success within colonies is higher on crowded ledges with more airspace for manoeuvring. More generally, the interplay between wind and flight capacities could impact breeding distributions across species and scales.

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Wind alters landing dynamics in bumblebees

Cited by 33 publications

References 16 publications

Gap perception in bumblebees

Gap perception in bumblebees

Gap perception in bumblebees

Wind prevents cliff-breeding birds from accessing nests through loss of flight control

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