Challenges in coupling atmospheric electricity with biological systems

Hunting, Ellard R.; Matthews, James; Hernáez, Pablo Fernández de Arróyabe; England, Sam J.; Kourtidis, Konstantinos; Koh, Kuang Liang; Nicoll, Keri; Harrison, Giles; Manser, Konstantine; Price, Colin; Dragović, Snežana; Cifra, Michal; Odzimek, Anna; Robert, Daniel

doi:10.1007/s00484-020-01960-7

Cited by 27 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 132 publications

(160 reference statements)

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“…It is first important to consider the presence of electric fields of abiotic origin. Arguably, the primary abiotic electric field source experienced by terrestrial organisms on Earth is the atmospheric potential gradient (APG) (Hunting et al ., 2021c). The APG is an electric field oriented vertically in the Earth's atmosphere, such that, within the vast majority of biologically inhabited altitudes (Imshenetsky, Lysenko & Kazakov, 1978; Womack, Bohannan & Green, 2010), the electric potential increases with altitude (Wilson, 1903).…”

Section: Sources Of Ecologically Relevant Electric Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecology of electricity and electroreception

England

Robert

2021

Biological Reviews

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Electricity, the interaction between electrically charged objects, is widely known to be fundamental to the functioning of living systems. However, this appreciation has largely been restricted to the scale of atoms, molecules, and cells. By contrast, the role of electricity at the ecological scale has historically been largely neglected, characterised by punctuated islands of research infrequently connected to one another. Recently, however, an understanding of the ubiquity of electrical forces within the natural environment has begun to grow, along with a realisation of the multitude of ecological interactions that these forces may influence. Herein, we provide the first comprehensive collation and synthesis of research in this emerging field of electric ecology. This includes assessments of the role electricity plays in the natural ecology of predator–prey interactions, pollination, and animal dispersal, among many others, as well as the impact of anthropogenic activity on these systems. A detailed introduction to the ecology and physiology of electroreception – the biological detection of ecologically relevant electric fields – is also provided. Further to this, we suggest avenues for future research that show particular promise, most notably those investigating the recently discovered sense of aerial electroreception.

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Section: Sources Of Ecologically Relevant Electric Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecology of electricity and electroreception

England

Robert

2021

Biological Reviews

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“…The electric environment is ubiquitous and affects biological systems, from pollination and ecology to soil microbiota (Hunting et al 2020 ), but the influence of electric fields on biological systems is often poorly understood and hard to quantify. These experiments indicate the need for future studies into the widespread effects of electric fields on flowering plants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bumblebee electric charge stimulates floral volatile emissions in Petunia integrifolia but not in Antirrhinum majus

Montgomery

Vuts

Woodcock

et al. 2021

Sci Nat

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The timing of volatile organic compound (VOC) emission by flowering plants often coincides with pollinator foraging activity. Volatile emission is often considered to be paced by environmental variables, such as light intensity, and/or by circadian rhythmicity. The question arises as to what extent pollinators themselves provide information about their presence, in keeping with their long co-evolution with flowering plants. Bumblebees are electrically charged and provide electrical stimulation when visiting plants, as measured via the depolarisation of electric potential in the stem of flowers. Here we test the hypothesis that the electric charge of foraging bumblebees increases the floral volatile emissions of bee pollinated plants. We investigate the change in VOC emissions of two bee-pollinated plants (Petunia integrifolia and Antirrhinum majus) exposed to the electric charge typical of foraging bumblebees. P. integrifolia slightly increases its emissions of a behaviorally and physiologically active compound in response to visits by foraging bumblebees, presenting on average 121 pC of electric charge. We show that for P. integrifolia, strong electrical stimulation (600–700 pC) promotes increased volatile emissions, but this is not found when using weaker electrical charges more representative of flying pollinators (100 pC). Floral volatile emissions of A. majus were not affected by either strong (600–700 pC) or weak electric charges (100 pC). This study opens a new area of research whereby the electrical charge of flying insects may provide information to plants on the presence and phenology of their pollinators. As a form of electroreception, this sensory process would bear adaptive value, enabling plants to better ensure that their attractive chemical messages are released when a potential recipient is present.

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“…Radionuclides derived from the Earth crust can influence the electrical properties of the atmosphere and can influence human illness and death rates, result in DNA alterations, and chromosomal aberrations and weakening of immunity (Hunting et al., 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circulation of Radon Progeny in the Terrestrial Atmosphere During Thunderstorms

Chilingarian

Hovsepyan

Sargsyan

2021

Geophysical Research Letters

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The terrestrial atmosphere is host to various sources of electric currents and gamma radiation ranging from the fair-weather current of picoamperes to hundreds of kiloampere lightning currents. Particle fluxes range from the single particles of the ambient population of secondary cosmic rays to huge particle showers from interactions of primary high-energy proton or nuclei with terrestrial atmosphere and electron-gamma ray avalanches from the electron accelerator operated in the thundercloud. Gamma radiation from the primordial radionuclides have the half-life comparable with the age of the Earth, and they contribute significantly to natural gamma radiation (NGR) at considerably low energies (<3 MeV). Radionuclides derived from the Earth crust can influence the electrical properties of the atmosphere and can influence human illness and death rates, result in DNA alterations, and chromosomal aberrations and weakening of immunity (Hunting et al., 2020). The static electric field in the lower atmosphere is modulated by the mobile particles carrying electrical charges, i.e., different types of hydrometeors, aerosols, small ions, and progeny of radioactive isotopes. The charge separation initiated by the updraft of moisture generates an electric field between differently charged layers emerging in the thundercloud; potential drop (voltage) in the cloud can reach hundreds of megavolts. Emerging near-surface electric field lifts charged aerosols with attached 222 Rn isotope and its progeny to the atmosphere. Correspondingly, the concentration of 222 Rn at surface decreases 10 times (Roffman, 1972; Wilkcning et al., 1966); the small ions and aerosols with attached 222 Rn are lifted up in seconds to tens of meters due to their large mobility. These gamma emitters significantly enhance low-energy natural gamma radiation measured by spectrometers located several meters above the ground (Chilingarian, 2018; Chilingarian et al., 2019a, 2019b). The rain returns long-lived progeny to the Earth recovering and somewhat

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Challenges in coupling atmospheric electricity with biological systems

Cited by 27 publications

References 132 publications

The ecology of electricity and electroreception

The ecology of electricity and electroreception

Bumblebee electric charge stimulates floral volatile emissions in Petunia integrifolia but not in Antirrhinum majus

Circulation of Radon Progeny in the Terrestrial Atmosphere During Thunderstorms

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