Analysis of the sonar emissions produced by five big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) during detection and range-discrimination tests show that each bat has a distinctive, “personal” emission. This may help bats distinguish their own emissions from those of others and thereby prevent jamming. Emissions usually contain three harmonics and are strongly frequency swept. Modeling of the sweep shape showed it to be more nearly linear in log time than hyperbolic (linear period modulation), which is optimal for Doppler tolerance. However, logarithmic time and linear period modulation are similar in their Doppler properties, and so bats may suffer little penalty for using a slightly nonoptimal sweep shape. We suggest that bats use logarithmic time modulation rather than linear period modulation in order to simplify signal processing during approach to prey, as this type of modulation stabilizes the filtering of echoes resulting from the bat’s automatic gain control. Likewise, the use of several harmonics in the emission may simplify signal processing of Doppler-shifted echoes by reducing the number of matched filters needed for reception.
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March 1991
March 01 1991
The structure of echolocation sounds used by the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus: Some consequences for echo processing Available to Purchase
W. Mitch Masters;
W. Mitch Masters
Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210
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Susan C. Jacobs;
Susan C. Jacobs
Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210
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James A. Simmons
James A. Simmons
Department of Psychology and Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
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W. Mitch Masters
Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210
Susan C. Jacobs
Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210
James A. Simmons
Department of Psychology and Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 89, 1402–1413 (1991)
Article history
Received:
July 20 1990
Accepted:
October 30 1990
Citation
W. Mitch Masters, Susan C. Jacobs, James A. Simmons; The structure of echolocation sounds used by the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus: Some consequences for echo processing. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 March 1991; 89 (3): 1402–1413. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.400660
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