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Hearing sensitivity and amplitude coding in bats are differentially shaped by echolocation calls and social calls
Ella Z Lattenkamp1,2, Martina Nagy3, Markus Drexl4
1Department Biology II, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Martinsried, Germany.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|January 6, 2021
Summary
Bat hearing sensitivity and sound coding were compared across species. Hearing was similar across frequencies, but bats processed loudness better at higher frequencies, adapting to their echolocation and social calls.
Area of Science:
- Comparative biology
- Bioacoustics
- Sensory neuroscience
Background:
- Auditory perception varies across species due to evolutionary history and environmental demands.
- Bats utilize echolocation for navigation and prey detection, alongside social calls, making them ideal for auditory studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in hearing sensitivity and stimulus level coding in bats across high and low-frequency ranges.
- To explore the phylogenetic basis of auditory perception adaptations in bats.
Main Methods:
- Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured in 86 bats from 11 species.
- Phylogenetic comparative analysis combined ABR data with published data from 27 additional species.
Main Results:
- Most bat species exhibited similar auditory sensitivity in both high and low-frequency ranges.
- Higher frequencies were coded with greater amplitude precision.
- Hearing sensitivity peaks correlated with echolocation and pup isolation call frequencies across species.
Conclusions:
- Bat hearing adaptations are shaped by the frequency characteristics of their echolocation and social communication signals.
- This study offers a comprehensive assessment of bat hearing capacities, revealing evolutionary pressures on sensory perception.
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