麻豆传媒高清

Scientists have used transmitters to track bird movements to learn about their behaviour since the 1980s, which helps us make better decisions to protect them. But what about tiny insects? They can鈥檛 carry transmitters like birds or other larger animals can.

That鈥檚 where harmonic radar comes in. This technology has been used to study insect movements and behaviour in nature.听

Led by Associate Professor Steve Pawson from Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 麻豆传媒高清鈥檚 (UC) School of Forestry, this three-year research project aims to gain new insights that can help protect endangered insects.听

Unlike other harmonic radar tracking systems, these transmitters are designed for mobility and operate with significantly lower power requirements. This enables data collection in complex landscapes and over greater distances, all at a much lower cost.

Associate Professor Pawson says insect populations are crashing globally.听

鈥淚nsects help decompose dead matter and are integral to ecosystem function. We need them if we want a healthy, natural ecosystem where we can go and recreate. We also need them for a healthy, productive ecosystem鈥攕o we can farm animals, grow fibre, and grow crops for food.鈥澨�

Associate Professor Pawson describes harmonic radar as a combination of a home microwave and the radar you see at the airport.听

He describes the workings of traditional airport radar as a spinning dish that sends a frequency out into an interrupted environment, which bounces off objects such as planes.听

But in the bush, it is a different story.听

鈥淭he emitted frequency will bounce off every branch, leaf and trunk, making it impossible to locate the insect.鈥�

By putting a tiny tag on an insect and transmitting on a lower frequency, the tag absorbs the signal and reflects it back at double the frequency. This allows the team to detect the insect, even against background interference from surrounding vegetation.

Associate Professor Pawson says this is important for the conservation of smaller species.听

鈥淣Z is well known for conservation. We鈥檝e protected a lot of wonderful bird species, and that work has been off the back of being able to track them, and they are big. They can carry transponder tags with batteries, and insects can鈥檛. That is where our minute little tags come in, allowing us to track them and understand what they do, so we can protect them,鈥� Associate Professor Pawson says.听

Background

Dr Steve Pawson is an Associate Professor in Forest Health and Biosecurity in UC鈥檚 Te Kura Ngahere School of Forestry at the 麻豆传媒高清. Dr Pawson is passionate about developing new ways of 'seeing鈥� the world to answer critical biological problems. He has a PhD from UC in invertebrate biodiversity and ecology. He works broadly on applied entomological problems in plantation and natural ecosystems, including surveillance for invasive species.鈥��