Bats Broaden Sonar Field of View to Maneuver around Obstacles
Author Information
Author(s): Yovel Yossi, Falk Ben, Moss Cynthia F., Ulanovsky Nachum
Primary Institution: Weizmann Institute of Science
Hypothesis
Can echolocating bats actively change the area scanned by their biosonar sensory system based on environmental complexity?
Conclusion
Echolocating bats can actively change their sonar field of view and emission intensity depending on the complexity of their environment and the distance to their target.
Supporting Evidence
- Bats modulated the intensity of their biosonar emissions based on environmental complexity.
- The inter-click angle increased significantly when bats approached targets in complex environments.
- Bats increased their field-of-view when more obstacles were present.
Takeaway
Bats can change how wide their sonar beam is and how loud they are when they are flying around obstacles, helping them find their way better.
Methodology
The study involved training Egyptian fruit bats to land on a target while measuring their echolocation and flight behavior in different environmental complexities.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a controlled environment, which may not fully replicate natural conditions.
Participant Demographics
Five adult Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) were used in the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<10−8
Statistical Significance
p<10−8
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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