Dangles Olivier auteur aut IRD Steinmann T. auteur aut IRD Pierre D. auteur aut IRD Vannier F. auteur aut IRD Casas J. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Understanding the relative contributions of the shape of a sensory organ and the arrangement of receptors to the overall performance of the organ has long been a challenge for sensory biologists. We tackled this issue using the wind-sensing system of crickets, the cerci, two conical abdominal appendages covered with arrays of filiform hairs. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with 3D reconstruction methods were used for mapping of all cercal filiform hairs. The hairs are arranged according to their diameter in a way that avoids collisions with neighbours during hair deflection: long hairs are regularly spaced, whereas short hairs are both randomly and densely distributed. Particle image velocimetry showed that the variation in diameter of the cercus along its length modifies the pattern of fluid velocities. Hairs are subject to higher air flow amplitudes at the base than at the apex of the cercus. The relative importance of interactions between receptors and the air flow around the organ may explain the performance of the cricket's cercal system: it is characterised by a high density of statistically non-interacting short hairs located at the base of the cercus where sensitivity to air currents is the highest. specialized Air sensing Sensory ecology Particle image velocimetry Point pattern analysis Sensory hair arrays 080 194 7 653-663 2008 0340-7594 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010042675 10.1007/s00359-008-0339-x 0340-7594 [F B010042675] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010042675 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2008/08/010042675.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2008-09-19 2017-08-23 fdi:010042675 fre