The Forgotten Sounds of Nature – Acoustic Diversity of Insects
Abstract
This project aims to establish a comprehensive acoustic database for Taiwanese insects, aimed at solving the current gap where Bioacoustic records focus mainly on birds and frogs, with insect data severely lacking. Taiwan has recorded nearly 300 Orthoptera species and approximately 800 Heteroptera (Auchenorrhyncha) species, yet formal sound recordings exist for fewer than 50 Orthoptera and just one Heteroptera species. Over the next two years, we aim to add acoustic recordings for 100 Orthoptera and 100 Heteroptera species, totaling 200 species. Methods include reviewing literature and museum specimens, surveying habitats and host plants, conducting field collections, and rearing insects in the laboratory. Recordings will be made using directional microphones and laser vibrometers, followed by time- and frequency-domain analyses, noise reduction, and storage in WAV format. Data will be integrated and uploaded into an open-access database. The outcomes will support Taxonomy, clarify morphologically similar species, study the mechanisms of insect sound production, and enable ecological monitoring. Applications extend to pest management, where species-specific sounds can disrupt mating and protect crops, and to biodiversity assessments that reflect ecosystem integrity. Additionally, insect Bioacoustics can enrich ecotourism and creative industries. This project will create a lasting, publicly accessible archive, preserving the diverse and precious “voices” of Taiwan’s insects for scientific and cultural use.
Methodology and Implementation Steps
首要工作會以文獻整理及台灣各大標本館檢視標本為主，接著整理物種名錄及棲息紀錄，以利野外採集活體之安排，也會著重於整理寄主植物、棲地環境及物候等資訊，加速野外採集活體及室內飼養之效率。本研究主要著重於大量的野外採集工作及昆蟲飼養，室內飼養會先營造出適合昆蟲鳴叫的環境，再因應不同發聲昆蟲，分別以指向型麥克風及雷射測振儀來記錄昆蟲所發出的聲音訊號，將錄製的昆蟲聲音以 wav 檔格式進行存取，測量聲學特徵的時域及頻域特徵，並進行適度的降躁處理以清晰呈現昆蟲聲音的特性，預計將來上傳至建構的昆蟲聲學資料庫，進行長期的數位保存。此外，亦會將以記錄聲音的個體製成標本、拍照記錄以及填寫標籤，保存於中興大學或科博館等標本館中保存，除了有利於對應物種的聲音外，也利於釐清個體差異及發表物種。
Innovation and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
昆蟲聲學訊號具有物種的專一性，可應用於系統分類研究，釐清形態近緣物，發音機制的探討除了行為學也需以比較解剖學及形態學進行假說驗證。此外國外也開始應用於生態聲學的監測，利用聲音之多樣性來評估生態環境的變化，而聲學的害蟲防治也是一個新興的管制方式，利用昆蟲聲音的物種專一性，可以運用此訊號來施放於田間擾亂害蟲的求偶行為、降低交配率，進而保護農作物。而這些研究最初是仍是需要各物種的基礎聲學資訊才得以達成。
Expected Results and Contributions
本計畫預計以兩年時間錄製200種的物種聲音。在採集昆蟲並錄音期間，可預期發現新物種及新紀錄種的機率很高。過去已使用部分經費建構多種台灣尚未正式紀錄的直翅目昆蟲聲音，本次申請期許有正式經費能擴大且持續記錄。國際上最完整的生物聲學資料庫雖然已具有許多昆蟲聲音，但多數台灣物種並不列於其中，因此在累積一定的聲學訊號後，希望能建構一個開放的聲學資料庫，除了可讓大眾及科學家利用之外，也可讓這些天籟之聲永遠的保存下去。
Team List
廖一璋/昆蟲學系/博士後研究員/生物聲學
詹明澍/昆蟲學系/研究助理/資料蒐集
王廷文/昆蟲學系/研究助理/野外採集
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