When pollinators visit flowers, they produce various sounds, from wing flapping during hovering, to landing and takeoff. Francesca Barbero studied these vibroacoustic signals to develop noninvasive an...

Newswise — NEW ORLEANS, May 21, 2025 – When pollinators visit flowers, they produce a variety of characteristic sounds, from wing flapping during hovering, to landing and takeoff. However, these sounds are extremely small compared to other vibrations and acoustics...

When pollinators visit flowers, they produce various sounds, from wing flapping during hovering, to landing and takeoff. Francesca Barbero studied these vibroacoustic signals to develop noninvasive an...

Eavesdropping on Hawaiian false killer whales with suction cup acoustic tags reveals unique call types, diverse repertoires, and previously undescribed vocal complexity.

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Studying the Effects of Rocket Launch Sonic Booms on Neighboring Communities #ASA188 May 19, 2025 * Laying the Groundwork to Diagnose Speech Impairments in Children with Clinical AI #ASA188 May 19, 2025 * Helping Noisy Data Centers Fit Into Residential Neighborhoods #ASA188 May 19, 2025 * Using Sound To ‘See’ Unexploded Munitions on the Seafloor #ASA188 May 19, 2025 * ASA Press Conference Schedule for Tuesday, May 20 #ASA188 May 6, 2025 # Can Plants Hear Their Pollinators? #ASA188 #### _Research suggests pollinator buzzing sounds lead plants to increase their nectar production._ Media Contact: AIP Media 301-209-3090 media@aip.org NEW ORLEANS, May 21, 2025 – When pollinators visit flowers, they produce a variety of characteristic sounds, from wing flapping during hovering, to landing and takeoff. However, these sounds are extremely small compared to other vibrations and acoustics of insect life, causing researchers to overlook these insects’ acoustic signals often related to wing and body buzzing. Francesca Barbero, a professor of zoology at the University of Turin, and her collaborators — an interdisciplinary mix of entomologists, sound engineers, and plant physiologists from Spain and Australia — studied these signals to develop noninvasive and efficient methods for monitoring pollinator communities and their influences on plant biology and ecology. Barbero will present her findings and their impacts on Wednesday, May 21, at 9 a.m. CT as part of the joint 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and 25th International Congress on Acoustics, running May 18-23. A photo of the recording device, the model snapdragon plant (A. litigiousum), and the approaching bee (R. sticticum). Credit: Vibrant Lab “Plant-pollinator coevolution has been studied primarily by assessing the production and perception of visual and olfactory cues, even though there is growing evidence that both insects and plants can sense and produce, or transmit, vibroacoustic signals,” said Barbero. Barbero and her collaborators played recordings near growing snapdragons of the buzzing sounds produced by a Rhodanthidium sticticum bee (sometimes called a snail-shell bee) to monitor the flowers’ reactions. The researchers found that the sounds of bees, which are efficient snapdragon pollinators, led the snapdragons to increase their sugar and nectar volume, and even alter their gene expression that governs sugar transport and nectar production. The flowers’ response may be a survival and coevolution strategy, especially if the plants can affect the time pollinators spend within their flowers to increase their fidelity. “The ability to discriminate approaching pollinators based on their distinctive vibroacoustic signals could be an adaptive strategy for plants,” said Barbero. “By replying to their proper vibroacoustic signal — for instance, an efficient pollinator’s — plants could improve their reproductive success if their responses drive modifications in pollinator behavior.” While it’s clear that buzzing sounds can trigger plants’ responses, it’s less clear whether plant acoustics can also influence insect behavior — for example, whether sounds from plants can draw in a suitable pollinator. “If this response from insects is confirmed, sounds could be used to treat economically relevant plants and crops, and increase their pollinators’ attraction,” said Barbero. The team is conducting ongoing analyses comparing snapdragon responses to other pollinators and nectar robbers. “The multitude of ways plants can perceive both biotic factors — such as beneficial and harmful insects, other neighboring plants — and abiotic cues, like temperature, drought, and wind in their surroundings, is truly astonishing,” Barbero said. The project, “Good Vibes: How do plants recognise and respond to pollinator vibroacoustic signals?” (grant RGP0003/2022), is funded by the Human Frontier Science Program and is a collaborative effort between the University of Turin, I²SysBio in Valencia, and the Centre for Audio, Acoustics and Vibration at the University of Technology Sydney. ——————— MORE MEETING INFORMATION ——————— Main Meeting Website: https://acousticalsociety.org/new-orleans-2025/ Technical Program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAICA25 ASA PRESS ROOM In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/. LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are summaries (300-500 words) of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/. PRESS REGISTRATION ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting and/or press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org. For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information. ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA The Acoustical Society of America is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/. ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ACOUSTICS The purpose of the International Commission for Acoustics (ICA) is to promote international development and collaboration in all fields of acoustics including research, development, education, and standardization. ICA’s mission is to be the reference point for the acoustic community, becoming more inclusive and proactive in our global outreach, increasing coordination and support for the growing international interest and activity in acoustics. Learn more at https://www.icacommission.org/. ### Share this: * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _Keep reading!_

Research suggests pollinator buzzing sounds lead plants to increase their nectar production.

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In the intricate dance of nature's coevolution, plants and their pollinators have traditionally communicated through a symphony of visual cues and olfactory signals. Yet, an emerging realm of scientific inquiry reveals a more subtle, often overlooked language: vibrational acoustics. Recent research spearheaded by Professor Francesca Barbero of the University of Turin, alongside a multidisciplinary team of entomologists, sound engineers, and plant physiologists hailing from Spain and Australia, uncovers the profound influence of pollinator-generated vibrations on plant physiology and gene expression, hinting at a sophisticated acoustic dialogue that shapes ecological interactions.

Research suggests pollinator buzzing sounds lead plants to increase their nectar production.

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