Sensory strategies and behavioural algorithms in predator-prey-interactions

• Applicant: Dr. Holger R. Goerlitz
• Subject Area: Sensory and Behavioural Biology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 464869890

Sensing and acting of animals form a tightly integrated loop. Sensory systems provide animals with information about their surroundings, and motor systems implement the behavioural actions. Behavioural algorithms are the rules that map the sensory input to adaptive motor output. Predator-prey-interaction occur everywhere in nature and pose a strong selection pressure on both predators and prey. Sensory and behavioural strategies are crucial part of predator-prey-interactions, particularly well documented in the visual system, including camouflage and visually-guided pursuit and escape. Pursuit and escape are great models to study the sensory strategies and behavioural algorithms of predators and prey, as they serve a clearly identifiable goal and can be experimentally tracked and mathematically described. Here, I propose a combined empirical and theoretical approach to investigate sensory strategies and behavioural algorithms in predators and prey that are guided by auditory information, namely echolocating bats and eared moths. Investigating auditory-guided predator-prey-interactions in comparison to the better-known visual strategies is crucial for obtaining a general understanding of behavioural algorithms including common principles as well as fundamental differences between sensory systems.I will develop, calibrate and describe advanced technologies for the 3D-tracking of free-flying bats and for real-time closed-loop experiments with flying bats based on virtual realities and biomimetic robotic prey. I will empirically measure sensory acoustic cues provided by moths, including flight sounds, and time-variant echo information, and quantify how much scales contribute to acoustic camouflage. In experiments with free-flying echolocating bats in the field and lab, I will empirically test the effectiveness of different antipredator strategies (acoustic camouflage, cessation of wingbeats, and dropping to the ground). Furthermore, I will isolate the prey-generated acoustic cues that echolocating bats rely on to detect and select free-flying moths, how they pursue evading moths, and I will model the control rules underlying their attacks on prey.In a modelling approach, I will divide negative phonotaxis, which is the first line of evasive defence of eared moths, into three consecutive behavioural algorithms. I will use community-wide data of hearing thresholds, flight kinematics and bat call parameters to model mutual detection distances, and to parametrize models of bat search and moth evasive flight. In different modelling approaches, I will test the constant-buffer-hypothesis of negative phonotaxis, predict the minimally required hearing thresholds of moths for successful escape, and develop a large-scale sensory-motor-model to delineate the effectiveness and costs of moth evasive flight.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants