Lidar as a potential tool for monitoring migratory insects

Hui Chen; Meng Li; Hampus Månefjord; Paul Travers; Jacobo Salvador; Lauro Müller; David Dreyer; Jamie Alison; Toke T Høye; Gao Hu; Eric Warrant; Mikkel Brydegaard

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.109588

Lidar as a potential tool for monitoring migratory insects

iScience. 2024 Mar 27;27(5):109588. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109588. eCollection 2024 May 17.

Authors

Hui Chen^{1

2}, Meng Li³, Hampus Månefjord³, Paul Travers⁴, Jacobo Salvador³, Lauro Müller³, David Dreyer², Jamie Alison⁵, Toke T Høye^{5

6}, Gao Hu¹, Eric Warrant², Mikkel Brydegaard^{3

7

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
² Lund Vision Group, Department Of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden.
³ Department Physics, Lund University, Sölvegatan 14c, 22363 Lund, Sweden.
⁴ Department Biological Engineering, Polytech Clermont, 2 Av. Blaise Pascal, 63100 Aubière, France.
⁵ Department Ecoscience, Aarhus University, C. F. Møllers Allé 8, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
⁶ Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
⁷ Department Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden.
⁸ FaunaPhotonics, Støberigade 14, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁹ Norsk Elektro Optikk, Østensjøveien 34, 0667 Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

The seasonal migrations of insects involve a substantial displacement of biomass with significant ecological and economic consequences for regions of departure and arrival. Remote sensors have played a pivotal role in revealing the magnitude and general direction of bioflows above 150 m. Nevertheless, the takeoff and descent activity of insects below this height is poorly understood. Our lidar observations elucidate the low-height dusk movements and detailed information of insects in southern Sweden from May to July, during the yearly northward migration period. Importantly, by filtering out moths from other insects based on optical information and wingbeat frequency, we have introduced a promising new method to monitor the flight activities of nocturnal moths near the ground, many of which participate in migration through the area. Lidar thus holds the potential to enhance the scientific understanding of insect migratory behavior and improve pest control strategies.

Keywords: Ecology; Entomology; Physics.