Moth Mimicry: Using Ultrasound to Avoid Bats | HHMI BioInteractive Video

The relationship between bats and moths, characterized by each species developing adaptations in response to the other, is an example of what biological phenomenon?

• Symbiosis

• Mutualism

• Co-evolutionary arms race

• Commensalism

How do bats use echolocation to find prey?

• They use their sense of smell to track prey in the dark.

• They produce high-frequency sounds and interpret the echoes to determine prey location.

• They rely on their excellent night vision to spot prey.

• They use their large ears to detect the faint sounds of prey moving.

How do researchers attract and capture moths for their study in Gorongosa National Park?

• They use large nets to sweep through the vegetation at night.

• They set up lamps emitting ultraviolet light to draw moths to a white sheet.

• They use bait traps filled with sweet substances.

• They manually collect moths found resting on trees during the day.

What are two primary defense mechanisms moths employ using ultrasound against bats?

• Signaling their presence to other moths and confusing bats with random sounds.

• Mimicking the sounds of other predators and creating a sonic shield.

• Signaling that they are toxic and jamming the bat's sonar.

• Attracting mates and deterring other insect predators.

What was the primary hypothesis being tested regarding the sound-producing moth (Chasmina sp. Noctuidae)?

• Its sound production would attract more bats.

• Its sound production would protect it from bats.

• Its sound production would make it taste better to bats.

• Its sound production would allow it to communicate with other moths.

Which two mechanisms are proposed for how sound-producing moths might avoid being eaten by bats?

• Camouflage and chemical defense.

• Jamming the bat's sonar and signaling bad taste.

• Increased flight speed and visual warning signals.

• Attracting other predators and emitting pheromones.

What is Batesian mimicry in the context of moth sound production?

• Moths evolving to look exactly like bats to avoid detection.

• Moths producing sounds that are identical to bat echolocation calls.

• Moths that taste good producing sounds similar to moths that taste bad to deceive bats.

• Moths changing their flight patterns to mimic the erratic movements of bats.

The long-term interaction between bats and moths, where adaptations in one species drive adaptations in the other, is an example of what evolutionary process?

• Genetic drift.

• Punctuated equilibrium.

• Coevolution.

• Convergent evolution.