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Clutter interference along the target range axis in the echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus
J A Simmons1, S A Kick, A J Moffat
1Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Echolocating bats like Eptesicus fuscus struggle to detect sonar targets when other targets are close. This clutter interference shows that bats group echoes within critical range bands to perceive targets.
Area of Science:
- Bioacoustics
- Sensory Ecology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Echolocating bats use sonar for navigation and hunting.
- Target detection can be challenging in cluttered environments with multiple echoes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the presence of multiple sonar targets affects the detection sensitivity of the echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus.
- To understand the role of range separation and critical range bands in bat sonar perception.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted with Eptesicus fuscus at a specific target range (54 cm).
- The effect of varying range separation between multiple targets on detection sensitivity was measured.
- The concept of critical range bands for echo summation and target perception was explored.
Main Results:
- Bat sensitivity to a sonar target declines when other targets are within 8-9 cm at a range of 54 cm.
- This decline represents clutter interference due to simultaneous masking of echoes.
- Echoes within a critical range band are summed, potentially perceived as a single, complex target.
Conclusions:
- Range bands define target perception by differentiating within-target and between-target echo differences.
- The width of critical range bands is dependent on target range, widening at greater distances.
- Clutter interference significantly impacts echolocating bat sonar target detection capabilities.