The structure of echolocation sounds used by the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus: Some consequences for echo processing Available to Purchase

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.