We successfully recorded and observed two leafhoppers sending vibrational signals. The signals were, in fact, not airborne because they were picked up by the phonograph cartridge, which only responds to mechanical stimulation.
The wave forms of the signals were graphed and analyzed using FFT, sonogram, and amplitude vs. time. From these graphs we determined the vibrations were biological signals due to their repetition of patterns.
We gathered information concerning the ecology and phylogeny of leafhoppers and treehoppers, and researched the following sub-categories of insect communication (see Discussion of Insect Communication panel):
-distinguishing between sound and vibrations
-forms of insect communication and associated behaviors
-insect sensory receptors and tymbal organs
-neurological processing of signals in arthropods
We learned about the basic physics involved in understanding our equipment and applied the following ideas to our data analysis:
-amplitude, frequency, wavelength, period
-electrical shielding and Faraday?s law
-resistance and Ohm?s law
We established a correspondence with leading scientists across the country who work in areas related to insect communication. This correspondence provides a window into the world of research, a valuable tool for any aspiring scientist. We maintained this correspondence through e-mail and personal visits. We successfully completed an original research project, a first for almost all the students in the class.