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Scale-free olfactory-driven foraging

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004770
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Andrew Reynolds
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	42,164
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2006
End date	31/03/2008
Duration	24 months

Abstract

The objectives of the proposed research are to: 1) Formulate and validate stochastic models for the fluctuations in scent concentration experienced by insects whilst airborne within the atmospheric boundary-layer. This will be achieved by building upon the groups¿ extensive experience of formulating and validating stochastic models of aerosol motions in turbulent flows; acquired over 10 years and through the production of 40 papers in top-flight fluid-dynamic journals. The models will reproduce accurately key aspects of concentration fluctuations associated with insect responses. These include distributions of concentration, intermittency factors and threshold up-crossing rates. 2) Combine the stochastic models with models of olfactory response and determine the extent to which scent-response accounts for observed insect foraging and sexual behaviours. Two hypotheses will be tested:- 1)Superstatistical stochastic models can simulate accurately the joint evolution of scalar concentrations and scalar concentration gradients in turbulent flows. This hypothesis is supported by the results of preliminary studies described in the case for support. 2)Scale-free foraging behaviours can arise from olfactory-driven searches, i.e. from a naïve response to complex turbulent fluctuations in scent concentration. The hypothesis will tested in numerical simulations by combining stochastic models for the evolution of scalar concentrations and scalar concentration gradients.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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