Insect antenna as a smoke detector

Nature has developed materials, objects and processes that function from the macroscale to the nanoscale. These have gone through evolution over 3.8 Gyr. The emerging field of biomimetics allows one to mimic biology or nature to develop nanomaterials, nanodevices and processes. Properties of biological materials and surfaces result from a complex interplay between surface morphology and physical and chemical properties. Hierarchical structures with dimensions of features ranging from the macroscale to the nanoscale are extremely common in nature to provide properties of interest. Molecularscale devices, superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, drag reduction in fluid flow, energy conversion and conservation, high adhesion, reversible adhesion, aerodynamic lift, materials and fibres with high mechanical strength, biological self-assembly, antireflection, structural coloration, thermal insulation, self-healing and sensory-aid mechanisms are some of the examples found in nature that are of commercial interest. This paper provides a broad overview of the various objects and processes of interest found in nature and applications under development or available in the marketplace.

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“…Insect-inspired IR sensors are being developed for various applications, such as heat and smoke detection (Schuetz et al 1999). …”

Section: (I ) Spiderwebmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomimetics: lessons from nature–an overview

Bhushan

2009

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

1,107

733

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“…Several of these insect species react physiologically to stimuli produced by fire, and can thus be, in some cases, on-site in a matter of hours (Evans 1971). Some species are known or suspected to actively respond to smoke (e.g., genera Arhopalus and Melanophila [Coleoptera: Cerambycidae and Buprestidae], Suckling et al 2001, Schütz et al 1999. Genera Melanophila and Oxypteris (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) can also detect the heat produced by the fire using photomechanic infrared receptors located in pits on their undersides (Evans 1966, Schmitz and Bleckmann 1998, Schütz et al 1999.…”

Section: Wood-boring Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salvage logging in the boreal and cordilleran forests of Canada: Integrating industrial and ecological concerns in management plans

Saint‐Germain¹,

Greene²

2009

The Forestry Chronicle

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Fire has been part of the North American boreal and cordilleran ecosystems for thousands of years. Because fire and harvesting compete directly for the same wood supply, and provinces have, within the last few decades, tended to reach their annual allowable cut, salvage logging has emerged as a practice to minimize the impact of fire on long-term wood supply. In most parts of the boreal and cordilleran forests, fire-killed boles rapidly degrade after their death, as wood-boring insects, stain, wood-decay fungi and checking lead to significant loss of grade or volume in the months following the fire. Because of this impending degradation, salvage operations are often hurried and other considerations, including the potential ecological impacts of salvage logging, have seldom been taken into consideration when defining harvesting strategies. The ecological consequences of rapid salvage have been widely studied only in the last 5 years, and it is now clear that salvage logging can have negative impacts on natural regeneration by seed, water quality, and fire-associated animal species. In this paper, we review both industrial and ecological constraints to salvage logging and discuss how both can be integrated in salvage plans. In particular, we focus on the issues of salvage timing and retention. At this point, some type of retention of merchantable stands, even if only for a few years, appears to be the only way to alleviate the negative ecological impacts of post-fire logging. On-site operational constraints, e.g., stands that cannot be harvested due to lack of accessibility, represent an important starting point for any retention strategy.Key words: boreal forest, forest fires, salvage logging, biodiversity, natural disturbances, regeneration after fire RÉSUMÉLe feu fait partie de l' écosystème boréal et de l' environnement des Rocheuses en Amérique du Nord depuis des milliers d'années. Compte tenu que le feu et l' exploitation forestière sont directement en compétition pour la même source de bois et que les provinces ont, au cours des quelques dernières décennies, tenté d'atteindre leur possibilité annuelle de coupe, la coupe de récupération est de plus en plus utilisée en tant que mesure de réduction des effets du feu sur l'approvisionnement en bois à long terme. Dans la plupart des régions forestières boréales et des Rocheuses, les arbres brûlés se dégradent rapidement après leur mort, puisque les insectes perceurs de bois, les décolorations, les champignons de pourriture et les fentes entraînent une diminution significative de la qualité ou du volume au cours des mois qui suivent un feu de forêt. Cette situation a pour effet que les opérations de récupération sont souvent effectuées à la dernière minute et que les autres considérations, incluant les impacts écologiques potentiels de la coupe de récupération, sont rarement étudiées au moment de l' élaboration des stratégies d' exploitation. Les conséquences écologiques d'une récupération rapide ont été étudiées à plusieurs reprises seulement depuis les ...

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“…In stems of conifers, for example, several monoterpenes such as α-pinene, β-myrcene, terpinolenes and β-pinene are attractive to a large number of conifer inhabiting beetles: an overview of the chemical ecology of bark beetles (Scolytidae) in this complex olfactory landscape is given by Byers (2004), of weevils (Curculionidae) by Schlyter (2004), of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) by Allison et al (2004), and of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) by Schütz et al (1999aSchütz et al ( , 2004. The influence of VOCs on insect behaviour is well studied in the case of Picea abies in the context of infestation with the bark beetle Ips typographus.…”

Section: Insects On Living Treesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The black jewel beetle (Melanophila acuminata) was found to be attracted by forest fires, because burnt wood is the only suitable substrate for bringing up its offspring. The antennae of the black jewel beetle were proved to be highly sensitive and selective to guaiacol derivatives, compounds which are generated by the pyrolysis of wood (Schütz et al 1999a). The antennae and with them the set of detected compounds can thus be appointted by the biosensor-designer to assess wood species and fire parameters (temperature, oxygen access) involved in the forest fire in distances of kilometres (Schütz 2004).…”

Section: Biosensorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wood production, wood technology, and biotechnological impacts

Kües¹

2007

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Insect antenna as a smoke detector

Cited by 131 publications

References 2 publications

Biomimetics: lessons from nature–an overview

Biomimetics: lessons from nature–an overview

Salvage logging in the boreal and cordilleran forests of Canada: Integrating industrial and ecological concerns in management plans

Wood production, wood technology, and biotechnological impacts

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