In this article, we will discuss how to use Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology to detect and analyze locust noise. We will also learn how fiber optic cables can be used to spy on insects and monitor their presence and population sizes.
Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) Technology
Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is a modern technology that uses fiber optic cables to track vibrations and sound. Fiber optic cables work by sending pulses of light and analyzing the small amounts of light that return to the source. Scientists can use a interrogator device to illuminate the cable and analyze the light reflected back to the source. They can determine where disturbances occur along the cable based on the known speed of light.
Detecting Locust Noise using DAS
In the spring of 2021, a team of scientists at Princeton noticed a strange signal in DAS data. They discovered a distinctive frequency of noise everywhere. The team suspected that this noise was not a swinging volcano in New Jersey but the result of a giant swarm of locusts just emerging from underground. A colleague from the team contacted Jessica Ware, an entomologist and locust expert at the American Museum of Natural History, to confirm this.
Using DAS to Monitor Insects
Due to their specialized anatomy, locusts are among the loudest insects on the planet. However, many other species of insects also produce loud sounds, such as cicadas and grasshoppers. Using fiber optic cables, entomologists may have discovered a new and powerful way to listen to and monitor insects continuously from a distance. Scientists can use this technology to collect data on population size and insect presence.
Challenges of Using DAS to Monitor Insects
However, there is a challenge in adapting DAS technology to monitor insects that are not the loudest insects on earth. In the case of locusts, it was very clear that the noise detected was due to a locust population of millions of insects. However, populations of other insect species are usually much lower. Therefore, scientists must determine whether they can actually distinguish between different insects using this technology.
In the end, DAS technology could be a powerful addition to insect monitoring tools. It can be used alongside other techniques such as environmental sensing and bioanalysis to ensure data accuracy and obtain a comprehensive picture of insect conditions.
Source: wired.com
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