JOURNAL ARTICLE

Echolocating bats adjust sonar call features and head/ear position as they track moving targets in the presence of clutter.

  • Published In: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2025, v. 157, n. 3. P. 2236 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Wilkinson, Michael G. T.; Wang, XingYao; Cowan, Noah J.; Moss, Cynthia F. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on the adaptive echolocation call features and head movements of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) as they track moving prey in cluttered environments. The study found that bats shorten call duration and interval, increase production of sonar strobe groups (SSGs), lower call power and frequency, and increase head movements when targets are near clutter, likely to enhance target localization and reduce interference from background echoes. These dynamic vocal-motor and kinematic adjustments illustrate the bats' sophisticated active sensing strategies for navigating and foraging in complex acoustic scenes. The findings highlight individual variability in echolocation behavior and underscore the importance of coordinated sonar call modulation and head orientation in clutter mitigation during predation.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 2025/03, Vol. 157, Issue 3, p2236
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Zoology
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0001-4966
  • DOI:10.1121/10.0036252
  • Accession Number:184139254
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of the Acoustical Society of America is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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