Sentinel species are organisms – animals [and plants], used to detect risks to humans by providing advance warning of a danger – environmental hazards. Some animals can act as sentinels because they may be more susceptible or have greater exposure to a particular hazard than humans in the same environment.
Insects (especially bees, bumble bees, butterflies, moths) are very good bioindicators, as their responses to change – especially change in conditions and the presence of pollutants – provides more general information on current and future environmental quality. This is because they have relatively short life cycles, and, therefore, respond rapidly to changes in ecosystem and climate variations. Some examples of sentinels are the butterfly species Mountain Apollo, Jersey Tiger and False Ringlet, Giant Peacock moths, bumblebees and fireflies.
The Sentinel is a simple theremin-based electronic circuit with two potentiometers regulating volume and frequency. The Sentinel’s wing-shaped antenna provide the basis for interaction with the player, who changes the distance of their hand to it or gently slides their fingers over the wings.
