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Acoustic mirrors as sensory traps for bats
Stefan Greif1,2, Sándor Zsebők3, Daniela Schmieder3
1Sensory Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany. stefan.greif@gmail.com.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 9, 2017
Summary
Bats can mistake smooth, vertical surfaces for open spaces due to echolocation misinterpretation. These sensory traps lead to fatal collisions, highlighting the need to monitor such hazardous locations.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Bioacoustics
Background:
- Animals, including bats, can be vulnerable to sensory traps that cause environmental misinterpretation.
- Bats primarily use echolocation for navigation, foraging, and orientation in their environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate why bats collide with smooth, vertical surfaces.
- To determine if echolocation properties of surfaces contribute to bat collisions.
- To assess the risk posed by acoustic mirror properties in natural environments.
Main Methods:
- Observed bat behavior and collisions with smooth, vertical surfaces in the wild.
- Analyzed bat echolocation calls in the vicinity of these surfaces.
- Correlated collision probability with echolocation call frequency and time spent near surfaces.
Main Results:
- Bats frequently collide with smooth, vertical surfaces, mistaking them for clear flight paths.
- Acoustic mirror properties of these surfaces appear to cause misinterpretation.
- Collision probability increases with the number of echolocation calls and proximity to the surface.
Conclusions:
- Bats perceive smooth, vertical surfaces as open flyways due to echolocation.
- These surfaces act as dangerous sensory traps, leading to animal fatalities.
- Monitoring locations with acoustic mirror properties is crucial to understanding bat mortality rates.
