A tree cricket that is male is singing from a baffle. Out of all crickets, only tree crickets are known to create baffles, which are acoustic tools that greatly increase their singing efficiency. Very few other crickets either make or make use of such a tool. (Photo by Natasha Mhatre)
A tree cricket that is male is singing from a baffle. Out of all crickets, only tree crickets are known to create baffles, which are acoustic tools that greatly increase their singing efficiency. Very few other crickets either make or make use of such a tool. (Photo by Natasha Mhatre)
Tyler O'Neal, Staff Editor APPLICATIONS

Western's groundbreaking study reveals that crickets use the ground to amplify their calls

Researchers at Western University in Canada have conducted a study that contradicts long-held beliefs about animal communication. The study shows how crickets use the ground to amplify their calls, which goes against previous assumptions in the field of animal communication.

Crickets are a diverse group of animals and are ideal for studying how communication evolves in the animal kingdom. Previous research has shown that when animals sing while sitting on the ground, such as crickets chirping, the volume and reach of their calls increase significantly, sometimes up to tenfold. This phenomenon was unexpected, as it was widely believed that the ground acted as a hindrance to sound transmission.

The study, led by Erin Brandt, a former postdoctoral associate in Western's Department of Biology, aimed to investigate this natural phenomenon further. Brandt and her team designed supercomputer models to simulate different crickets singing and collected data from the wings and songs of over a hundred cricket species, measuring their natural size and frequency ranges.

Surprisingly, the team discovered that all crickets, regardless of species, could benefit from using an acoustic tool called a baffle, which amplifies their sounds. Some crickets, such as tree crickets, even construct baffles by carving holes in leaves, further increasing their efficiency in attracting mates.

"To gain a more realistic understanding of these findings, the researchers incorporated elements such as the ground and vegetation in their computer models. Surprisingly, they found that when animals sang while sitting on land, their acoustic efficiency, volume, and reach increased by more than ten times the regular returns," said Brandt.

The implications of this research extend beyond crickets, as the study suggests that other animals, including wolves, howler monkeys, frogs, and cicadas, could produce louder calls if they utilized the ground or a flat surface for communication. This groundbreaking research highlights the importance of considering the relationship between singing effort and sound output in future studies of animal communication.

"This study has the potential to make us rework textbooks about animal communication," said Brandt. "The physics say what we discovered about crickets should hold true for all animals."

The study challenges long-standing assumptions in the field of bioacoustics and potentially leads to a reevaluation of current theories. This groundbreaking research opens up doors for further research that could reshape our understanding of this complex field.

Researchers have found that previous studies analyzing the genomes of people with European ancestry may have reported inaccurate results by not fully accounting for population structure CREDIT Darryl Leja, National Human Genome Research Institute
Researchers have found that previous studies analyzing the genomes of people with European ancestry may have reported inaccurate results by not fully accounting for population structure CREDIT Darryl Leja, National Human Genome Research Institute

Previous genetic association studies that involved individuals with European ancestry may have inaccurate results

Tyler O'Neal, Staff Editor APPLICATIONS

A recent study conducted by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has revealed that previous genetic association studies involving people with European ancestry may have reported inaccurate results. The research suggests that failing to account for mixed genetic lineages could lead to misleading conclusions.

The researchers at NHGRI found that previous studies analyzing the genomes of individuals with European ancestry did not fully consider population structure. By considering mixed genetic lineages, the researchers demonstrated that previously inferred links between genomic variants and traits such as height, cholesterol levels, and lactose digestion may not be valid.

The study emphasizes the importance of adjusting for admixture in the population when evaluating data from genetic association studies of individuals with European ancestry. The researchers collated data from published genetic association studies and generated a reference panel of genomic data that included 19,000 individuals across 79 populations in Europe and European Americans in the US.

According to Daniel Shriner, a staff scientist at the NIH Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health and senior author of the study, analyzing the genetic makeup of Europe on a continental level is too simplistic. By considering admixture, true links between genomic variants and traits can be uncovered.

For instance, the researchers investigated the lactase gene, which plays a role in digesting lactose and is highly diverse across Europe. Using the new reference panel, they analyzed how a genomic variant of the lactase gene is related to traits such as height, body mass index, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (bad cholesterol). The results showed that when considering the genetic admixture of the European population, the genomic variant related to lactose digestion is not linked to height or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but it does influence body mass index.

Charles Rotimi, NIH Distinguished Investigator and director of the Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health emphasizes the importance of accounting for complex ancestral backgrounds in genetic studies and genomic medicine. He states that appreciating the mixed ancestral backgrounds of individuals worldwide is crucial to avoiding false associations and uncovering true genetic links.

The study suggests that there may be other false associations in the literature and that some true associations are yet to be discovered. Understanding how genomic variants are related to different traits can help researchers estimate polygenic risk scores and provide insights into a person's ability to respond safely to drug treatments.

By accounting for mixed ancestries in future genomic analyses, researchers hope to improve the predictive value of polygenic risk scores and enhance the practice of genomic medicine. The reference panel generated in this study is available to the scientific community for use in additional studies, further advancing the understanding of genetic associations.

Scientists at the University of New Mexico use volcanic modeling to create a response plan

Tyler O'Neal, Staff Editor APPLICATIONS

Scientists and researchers, in collaboration with the Community Network for Volcanic Eruption Response (CONVERSE), have devised a response plan aimed at addressing a hypothetical volcanic crisis in the San Francisco Volcanic Field (SFVF) in Arizona, USA. The study was recently published in Volcanica and was led by Yolanda C Lin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of New Mexico, with co-author Tobias Fischer.

During the exercise, participants analyzed the magma system modeled in the scenario, including the dikes, tephra deposits, lava flow, and vents of the SFVF. The study was conducted virtually, with participants from various disciplines in volcano science working together to make informed decisions.

The exercise was critical in coordinating and sharing findings among academic and government agencies. It allowed hypothetical scenarios to be simulated, and people to react to the information that could potentially be collected based on real-life volcanic systems. Fischer highlighted the importance of early career scientists submitting a one-page proposal to a committee of peers for access to relevant resources.

Lin emphasized that the study contributed to the development of a shared culture and sense of community among current and future volcano scientists, as well as consolidating resources related to volcanic field activities and spurring new collaboration and discussion among researchers and scientists.