Desenvolvimento e análise de um sonicador para simular abelhas vibradoras usando vibrometria laser, imagens de alta velocidade e análises acústicas

Abstract

Bees are the most important pollinators of flowering plants. More than half of the existing bees have the ability to perform a vibrational behavior during their visit to the flowers. This behavior is fundamental for pollination of pollen flowers because these flowers bear poricidal anthers and pollen release occurs only by the vibration of these bees in a process known as "buzz pollination". During this process, bees can adjust different values of duration, frequency and amplitude of vibration according to their body traits as well as the traits of the flowers they visit. Thus, a portable device capable of simulating the vibration behavior of bees in both the laboratory and the field is fundamental for research development in “buzz pollination” and pollen flower reproduction. In this project, we developed a homemade and inexpensive artificial vibration system based on a speaker with a vibrating metal plate that allows us to simulate the behavior of bees with different sizes and vibration properties. We described its accuracy and precision using optical vibrometry. We also compared the vibrations measured by optical vibrometry with those measured by highspeed videos and classical acoustic analysis. The equipment presented high precision and accuracy in 89% of the reproductions of frequencies, however the same did not happen with the reproduction of the amplitudes. Both the highspeed videos and the microphone recorded the vibrations and allowed good estimates of the dominant frequency and amplitude generated by the sonicator. Thus, the sonicator, when properly calibrated, allows a good reproduction of artificial vibrations. In addition, highspeed videos are a good alternative to estimate the components of vibration (frequency and amplitude) of bees in the field and in the laboratory.