New model for gain control of signal intensity to object distance in echolocating bats ...

• Main Authors: Nørum, Ulrik, Brinkløv, Signe, Surlykke, Annemarie
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2012
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Mammalia; Chiroptera; Chordata; Animalia; bats; bat; toothed whales
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13442774; https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13442774

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Echolocating bats emit ultrasonic calls and listen for the returning echoes to orient and localize prey in darkness. The emitted source level, SL (estimated signal intensity 10cm from the mouth), is adjusted dynamically from call to call in response to sensory feedback as bats approach objects. A logarithmic relationship of SL20log10(x), i.e. 6dB output reduction per halving of distance, x, has been proposed as a model for the relationship between emitted intensity and object distance, not only for bats but also for echolocating toothed whales. This logarithmic model suggests that the approaching echolocator maintains a constant intensity impinging upon the object, but it also implies ever-increasing source levels with distance, a physical and biological impossibility. We developed a new model for intensity compensation with an exponential rise to the maximum source level: SLSLmax–ae–bx. In addition to providing a method for estimating maximum output, ...