On Friday, October 2nd, Dr. Hannah ter Hofstede of Dartmouth College joined us to present her research in the field of sensory ecology. Dr. ter Hofstedes’s presentation, “Sensory Ecology: The Acoustic World of Bats and Insects” focused on the large role that acoustics play on wildlife behavior, and the predator-prey relationships between bats and insects. The presentation informed us of both the predatory strategies of bats and the defense strategies of insects, all using acoustics. Dr. ter Hofstedes’s presentation was interesting and informative, and served as a reminder that sometimes the things that play such a large role in our ecosystems are the things that we can’t see or hear, such as the high pitched call of bats.
If you have yet to attend a Fish and Wildlife Science Seminar this semester, be sure to join us for the last one on Friday, November 6th, at common time in the Freer Auditorium. Lt. Kenneth Bruno from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation will be giving his presentation, “Investigating Environmental Crimes in the Adirondacks.”