1
|
Levey DJ, Poulsen JR, Schaeffer AP, Deochand ME, Oswald JA, Robinson SK, Londoño GA. Wild mockingbirds distinguish among familiar humans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10259. [PMID: 37355713 PMCID: PMC10290633 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36225-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Although individuals of some species appear able to distinguish among individuals of a second species, an alternative explanation is that individuals of the first species may simply be distinguishing between familiar and unfamiliar individuals of the second species. In that case, they would not be learning unique characteristics of any given heterospecific, as commonly assumed. Here we show that female Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) can quickly learn to distinguish among different familiar humans, flushing sooner from their nest when approached by people who pose increasingly greater threats. These results demonstrate that a common small songbird has surprising cognitive abilities, which likely facilitated its widespread success in human-dominated habitats. More generally, urban wildlife may be more perceptive of differences among humans than previously imagined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J Levey
- Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA, 22314, USA.
| | - John R Poulsen
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Andrew P Schaeffer
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Michelle E Deochand
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Jessica A Oswald
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Scott K Robinson
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Gustavo A Londoño
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Balzer EW, McBurney TS, Broders HG. Little brown Myotis roosts are spatially associated with foraging resources on Prince Edward Island. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evan W. Balzer
- University of Waterloo 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G2 Canada
| | - Tessa S. McBurney
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Atlantic Region, Atlantic Veterinary College University of Prince Edward Island 550 University Avenue Charlottetown PE C1A 4P3 Canada
| | - Hugh G. Broders
- University of Waterloo 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G2 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tan X, Lin A, Sun K, Jin L, Feng J. Greater Horseshoe Bats Recognize the Sex and Individual Identity of Conspecifics from Their Echolocation Calls. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243490. [PMID: 36552410 PMCID: PMC9774574 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The echolocation calls of bats are mainly used for navigation and foraging; however, they may also contain social information about the emitter and facilitate social interactions. In this study, we recorded the echolocation calls of greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and analyzed the acoustic parameter differences between the sexes and among individuals. Then, we performed habituation-discrimination playback experiments to test whether greater horseshoe bats could recognize the sex and individual identity of conspecifics from their echolocation calls. The results showed that there were significant differences in the echolocation call parameters between sexes and among individuals. When we switched playback files from a habituated stimuli to a dishabituated stimuli, the tested bats exhibited obvious behavioral responses, including nodding, ear or body movement, and echolocation emission. The results showed that R. ferrumequinum can recognize the sex and individual identity of conspecifics from their echolocation calls alone, which indicates that the echolocation calls of R. ferrumequinum may have potential communication functions. The results of this study improve our understanding of the communication function of the echolocation calls of bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tan
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Aiqing Lin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Keping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Longru Jin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Avian Ecology and Conservation Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (J.F.); Tel./Fax: +86-0431-85098097 (J.F.)
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, China
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130000, China
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (J.F.); Tel./Fax: +86-0431-85098097 (J.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bergmann A, Gloza-Rausch F, Wimmer B, Kugelschafter K, Knörnschild M. Similarities in social calls during autumn swarming may facilitate interspecific communication between Myotis bat species. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.950951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats employ a variety of social calls for communication purposes. However, for most species, social calls are far less studied than echolocation calls and their specific function often remains unclear. We investigated the function of in-flight social calls during autumn swarming in front of a large hibernaculum in Northern Germany, whose main inhabitants are two species of Myotis bats, Natterer’s bats (Myotis nattereri) and Daubenton’s bats (Myotis daubentonii). We recorded social calls in nights of high swarming activity and grouped the calls based on their spectro-temporal structure into ten types and verified our visual classification by a discriminant function analysis. Whenever possible, we subsequently assigned social calls to either M. daubentonii or M. nattereri by analyzing the echolocation calls surrounding them. As many bats echolocate at the same time during swarming, we did not analyze single echolocation calls but the “soundscape” surrounding each social call instead, encompassing not only spectral parameters but also the timbre (vocal “color”) of echolocation calls. Both species employ comparatively similar social call types in a swarming context, even though there are subtle differences in call parameters between species. To additionally gain information about the general function of social calls produced in a swarming context, we performed playback experiments with free-flying bats in the vicinity of the roost, using three different call types from both species, respectively. In three out of six treatments, bat activity (approximated as echolocation call rate) increased during and after stimulus presentation, indicating that bats inspected or approached the playback site. Using a camera trap, we were sometimes able to identify the species of approaching bats. Based on the photos taken during playbacks, we assume one call type to support interspecific communication while another call type works for intraspecific group cohesion.
Collapse
|
5
|
Tan X, Li Y, Sun K, Jin L, Feng J. Mutual mother‐pup acoustic identification in Asian particolored bats. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9554. [DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tan
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Yu Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Keping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Longru Jin
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization Northeast Normal University Changchun China
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Avian Ecology and Conservation Genetics Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization Northeast Normal University Changchun China
- College of Life Science Jilin Agricultural University Changchun China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Crisp RJ, Brent LJN, Carter GG. Social dominance and cooperation in female vampire bats. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210266. [PMID: 34295524 PMCID: PMC8261227 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
When group-living animals develop individualized social relationships, they often regulate cooperation and conflict through a dominance hierarchy. Female common vampire bats have been an experimental system for studying cooperative relationships, yet surprisingly little is known about female conflict. Here, we recorded the outcomes of 1023 competitive interactions over food provided ad libitum in a captive colony of 33 vampire bats (24 adult females and their young). We found a weakly linear dominance hierarchy using three common metrics (Landau's h' measure of linearity, triangle transitivity and directional consistency). However, patterns of female dominance were less structured than in many other group-living mammals. Female social rank was not clearly predicted by body size, age, nor reproductive status, and competitive interactions were not correlated with kinship, grooming nor food sharing. We therefore found no evidence that females groomed or shared food up a hierarchy or that differences in rank explained asymmetries in grooming or food sharing. A possible explanation for such apparently egalitarian relationships among female vampire bats is the scale of competition. Female vampire bats that are frequent roostmates might not often directly compete for food in the wild.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel J. Crisp
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - Lauren J. N. Brent
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Gerald G. Carter
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Waag AG, Treanor JJ, Kropczynski JN, Johnson JS. Social networks based on frequency of roost cohabitation do not reflect association rates of Myotis lucifugus within their roosts. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5927-5936. [PMID: 34141193 PMCID: PMC8207371 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are a group of mammals well known for forming dynamic social groups. Studies of bat social structures are often based upon the frequency at which bats occupy the same roosts because observing bats directly is not always possible. However, it is not always clear how closely bats occupying the same roost associate with each other, obscuring whether associations result from social relationships or factors such as shared preferences for roosts. Our goal was to determine if bats cohabitating buildings were also found together inside roosts by using anti-collision technology for PIT tags, which enables simultaneous detection of multiple tags. We PIT-tagged 293 female little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and installed antennas within two buildings used as maternity roosts in Yellowstone National Park. Antennas were positioned at roost entryways to generate cohabitation networks and along regions of attic ceilings in each building to generate intraroost networks based on proximity of bats to each other. We found that intraroost and cohabitation networks of buildings were significantly correlated, with the same bats tending to be linked in both networks, but that bats cohabitating the same building often roosted apart, leading to differing assessments of social structure. Cohabitation rates implied that bats associate with a greater number of their roost-mates than was supported by observations within the roost. This caused social networks built upon roost cohabitation rates to be denser, smaller in diameter, and contain nodes with higher average degree centrality. These results show that roost cohabitation does not reflect preference for roost-mates in little brown myotis, as is often inferred from similar studies, and that social network analyses based on cohabitation may provide misleading results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Austin G. Waag
- Department of Biological SciencesOhio UniversityAthensOHUSA
| | - John J. Treanor
- United States National Park ServiceYellowstone National ParkMammoth Hot SpringsWYUSA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kohles JE, Carter GG, Page RA, Dechmann DKN. Socially foraging bats discriminate between group members based on search-phase echolocation calls. Behav Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Animals have evolved diverse strategies to use social information for increasing foraging success and efficiency. Echolocating bats, for example, can eavesdrop on bats foraging nearby because they shift from search-phase calls to feeding buzzes when they detect prey. Feeding buzzes can directly convey information about prey presence, but it is unknown whether search-phase calls also convey social information. Here, we investigated whether search-phase echolocation calls, distinct calls produced by some bat species to scan large open areas for prey, can additionally convey individual identity. We tested this in Molossus molossus, a neotropical insectivorous bat that forages with group members, presumably to find ephemeral insect swarms more efficiently. We caught M. molossus from six different social groups and recorded their search-phase calls during a standardized release procedure, then recaptured and tested 19 marked bats with habituation–dishabituation playback experiments. We showed that they can discriminate between group members based on search-phase calls, and our statistical analysis of call parameters supported the presence of individual signatures in search-phase calls. Individual discrimination is a prerequisite of individual recognition, which may allow M. molossus to maintain contact with group members while foraging without using specialized signals for communication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Kohles
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße, Konstanz, Germany
- Gamboa Laboratory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ave. Luis F. Clement, Balboa, Ancón, Panamá, República de Panamá
| | - Gerald G Carter
- Gamboa Laboratory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ave. Luis F. Clement, Balboa, Ancón, Panamá, República de Panamá
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Aronoff Laboratory, Columbus, OH , USA
| | - Rachel A Page
- Gamboa Laboratory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ave. Luis F. Clement, Balboa, Ancón, Panamá, República de Panamá
| | - Dina K N Dechmann
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg, Radolfzell, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße, Konstanz, Germany
- Gamboa Laboratory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ave. Luis F. Clement, Balboa, Ancón, Panamá, República de Panamá
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Proteins from femoral gland secretions of male rock lizards Iberolacerta cyreni allow self—but not individual—recognition of unfamiliar males. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02847-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
10
|
|
11
|
Voigt CC, Frick WF, Holderied MW, Holland R, Kerth G, Mello MAR, Plowright RK, Swartz S, Yovel Y. PRINCIPLES AND PATTERNS OF BAT MOVEMENTS: FROM AERODYNAMICS TO ECOLOGY. QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY 2019; 92:267-287. [PMID: 29861509 DOI: 10.1086/693847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Movement ecology as an integrative discipline has advanced associated fields because it presents not only a conceptual framework for understanding movement principles but also helps formulate predictions about the consequences of movements for animals and their environments. Here, we synthesize recent studies on principles and patterns of bat movements in context of the movement ecology paradigm. The motion capacity of bats is defined by their highly articulated, flexible wings. Power production during flight follows a U-shaped curve in relation to speed in bats yet, in contrast to birds, bats use mostly exogenous nutrients for sustained flight. The navigation capacity of most bats is dominated by the echolocation system, yet other sensory modalities, including an iron-based magnetic sense, may contribute to navigation depending on a bat's familiarity with the terrain. Patterns derived from these capacities relate to antagonistic and mutualistic interactions with food items. The navigation capacity of bats may influence their sociality, in particular, the extent of group foraging based on eavesdropping on conspecifics' echolocation calls. We infer that understanding the movement ecology of bats within the framework of the movement ecology paradigm provides new insights into ecological processes mediated by bats, from ecosystem services to diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian C Voigt
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research 10315 Berlin, Germany, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Winifred F Frick
- Bat Conservation International Austin, Texas 78716 USA, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, California 95064 USA
| | - Marc W Holderied
- School of Biological Sciences, Bristol University Bristol BS8 1TQ United Kingdom
| | - Richard Holland
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW United Kingdom
| | - Gerald Kerth
- Applied Zoology and Conservation, University of Greifswald D-17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marco A R Mello
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Raina K Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University Bozeman, Montana 59717 USA
| | - Sharon Swartz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and School of Engineering, Brown University Providence, Rhode Island 02912 USA
| | - Yossi Yovel
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, and the "Sagol" School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Obrist M, Boesch R. BatScope manages acoustic recordings, analyses calls, and classifies bat species automatically. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BatScope is a free application for processing acoustic high-frequency recordings of bats. It can import data, including meta-data information, from recorders such as Batlogger. The resulting content can be filtered visually as spectrograms or according to data fields and can be displayed. Automated processing includes detecting and extracting of echolocation calls, filtering noise, and measuring statistical parameters. Calls are classified to species by statistically matching to a reference database. A weighted list of classifiers helps to assign the most likely species per call. Classifiers were trained on 19 636 echolocation calls of 27 European bat species. When classifiers all agree on a species (76.4% of all cases), the mean correct classification rate reaches 95.7%. A sequence’s summary statistic indicates the most likely species occurring therein. Classifications can be verified visually, by filtering, and by acoustic comparison with reference calls. Procedures are available for, e.g., excluding dubious cutouts from the statistics and for accepting or overriding the proposed species assignment. Acoustic recordings can be exported and exchanged with other users. Finally, the verified results can be exported to spreadsheets for further analyses and reporting. We currently reprogram BatScope using Java, PostgreSQL, and R to reach a unified and portable software architecture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M.K. Obrist
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - R. Boesch
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Landscape Dynamics, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bohn K, Gillam E. In-flight social calls: a primer for biologists and managers studying echolocation. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent technological advances have permitted collection of immense data sets through automated recordings that are primarily aimed at capturing bat echolocation. Analyses of echolocation calls are used to identify species, relative abundance, and some aspects of behaviour, such as foraging or commuting. Here we propose that social calls recorded in flight are also valuable tools for understanding bat ecology and behaviour. First, we examine how and why the acoustic structure of social calls differ from echolocation. Differences in form make social calls often, but not always, easy to identify. We then use a case study on in-flight song in Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis (I. Geoffroy, 1824)) to show that what may appear as echolocation may instead be predominantly used for social communication. Next, we review three basic functions of in-flight social calls, including examples of each, and develop a framework for testing these alternative functions using automated recordings. In a second case study, we use automated recordings of the endangered Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus (G.M. Allen, 1932)) to illustrate how behavioural information can be gleaned by examining patterns of social call production. Finally, we discuss why and how social calls provide novel information that can be crucial for conservation and management efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K.M. Bohn
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA
| | - E.H. Gillam
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, 218 Stevens Hall, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Chaverri G, Ancillotto L, Russo D. Social communication in bats. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 93:1938-1954. [PMID: 29766650 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bats represent one of the most diverse mammalian orders, not only in terms of species numbers, but also in their ecology and life histories. Many species are known to use ephemeral and/or unpredictable resources that require substantial investment to find and defend, and also engage in social interactions, thus requiring significant levels of social coordination. To accomplish these tasks, bats must be able to communicate; there is now substantial evidence that demonstrates the complexity of bat communication and the varied ways in which bats solve some of the problems associated with their unique life histories. However, while the study of communication in bats is rapidly growing, it still lags behind other taxa. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of communication in bats, from the reasons why they communicate to the diversity and application of different signal modalities. The most widespread form of communication is the transmission of a signaller's characteristics, such as species identity, sex, individual identity, group membership, social status and body condition, and because many species of bats can rely little on vision due to their nocturnal lifestyles, it is assumed that sound and olfaction are particularly important signalling modes. For example, research suggests that secretions from specialized glands, often in combination with urine and saliva, are responsible for species recognition in several species. These olfactory signals may also convey information about sex and colony membership. Olfaction may be used in combination with sound, particularly in species that emit constant frequency (CF) echolocation calls, to recognize conspecifics from heterospecifics, yet their simple structure and high frequency do not allow much information of individual identity to be conveyed over long distances. By contrast, social calls may encode a larger number of cues of individual identity, and their lower frequencies increase their range of detection. Social calls are also known to deter predators, repel competitors from foraging patches, attract group mates to roost sites, coordinate foraging activities, and are used during courtship. In addition to sound, visual displays such as wing flapping or hovering may be used during courtship, and swarming around roost sites may serve as a visual cue of roost location. However, visual communication in bats still remains a poorly studied signal modality. Finally, the most common form of tactile communication known in bats is social grooming, which may be used to signal reproductive condition, but also to facilitate and strengthen cooperative interactions. Overall, this review demonstrates the rapid advances made in the study of bat social communication during recent years, and also identifies topics that require further study, particularly those that may allow us to understand adaptation to rapidly changing environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gloriana Chaverri
- Recinto de Golfito, Universidad de Costa Rica, Golfito, 60701, Costa Rica
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università 100, Portici NA 80055, Italy
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università 100, Portici NA 80055, Italy.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Russo D, Ancillotto L, Jones G. Bats are still not birds in the digital era: echolocation call variation and why it matters for bat species identification. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The recording and analysis of echolocation calls are fundamental methods used to study bat distribution, ecology, and behavior. However, the goal of identifying bats in flight from their echolocation calls is not always possible. Unlike bird songs, bat calls show large variation that often makes identification challenging. The problem has not been fully overcome by modern digital-based hardware and software for bat call recording and analysis. Besides providing fundamental insights into bat physiology, ecology, and behavior, a better understanding of call variation is therefore crucial to best recognize limits and perspectives of call classification. We provide a comprehensive overview of sources of interspecific and intraspecific echolocation call variations, illustrating its adaptive significance and highlighting gaps in knowledge. We remark that further research is needed to better comprehend call variation and control for it more effectively in sound analysis. Despite the state-of-art technology in this field, combining acoustic surveys with capture and roost search, as well as limiting identification to species with distinctive calls, still represent the safest way of conducting bat surveys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
| | - Gareth Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hügel T, van Meir V, Muñoz-Meneses A, Clarin BM, Siemers BM, Goerlitz HR. Does similarity in call structure or foraging ecology explain interspecific information transfer in wild Myotis bats? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2017; 71:168. [PMID: 29200602 PMCID: PMC5661007 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-017-2398-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Animals can gain important information by attending to the signals and cues of other animals in their environment, with acoustic information playing a major role in many taxa. Echolocation call sequences of bats contain information about the identity and behaviour of the sender which is perceptible to close-by receivers. Increasing evidence supports the communicative function of echolocation within species, yet data about its role for interspecific information transfer is scarce. Here, we asked which information bats extract from heterospecific echolocation calls during foraging. In three linked playback experiments, we tested in the flight room and field if foraging Myotis bats approached the foraging call sequences of conspecifics and four heterospecifics that were similar in acoustic call structure only (acoustic similarity hypothesis), in foraging ecology only (foraging similarity hypothesis), both, or none. Compared to the natural prey capture rate of 1.3 buzzes per minute of bat activity, our playbacks of foraging sequences with 23-40 buzzes/min simulated foraging patches with significantly higher profitability. In the flight room, M. capaccinii only approached call sequences of conspecifics and of the heterospecific M. daubentonii with similar acoustics and foraging ecology. In the field, M. capaccinii and M. daubentonii only showed a weak positive response to those two species. Our results confirm information transfer across species boundaries and highlight the importance of context on the studied behaviour, but cannot resolve whether information transfer in trawling Myotis is based on acoustic similarity only or on a combination of similarity in acoustics and foraging ecology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Animals transfer information, both voluntarily and inadvertently, and within and across species boundaries. In echolocating bats, acoustic call structure and foraging ecology are linked, making echolocation calls a rich source of information about species identity, ecology and activity of the sender, which receivers might exploit to find profitable foraging grounds. We tested in three lab and field experiments if information transfer occurs between bat species and if bats obtain information about ecology from echolocation calls. Myotis capaccinii/daubentonii bats approached call playbacks, but only those from con- and heterospecifics with similar call structure and foraging ecology, confirming interspecific information transfer. Reactions differed between lab and field, emphasising situation-dependent differences in animal behaviour, the importance of field research, and the need for further studies on the underlying mechanism of information transfer and the relative contributions of acoustic and ecological similarity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Hügel
- Sensory Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
- Acoustic and Functional Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str. 11, Seewiesen, 82319 Germany
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology (Zoology III), Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vincent van Meir
- Sensory Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
- Acoustic and Functional Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str. 11, Seewiesen, 82319 Germany
| | - Amanda Muñoz-Meneses
- Acoustic and Functional Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str. 11, Seewiesen, 82319 Germany
- Graduate School for Evolution, Ecology and Systematics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - B.-Markus Clarin
- Sensory Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Björn M. Siemers
- Sensory Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Holger R. Goerlitz
- Sensory Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
- Acoustic and Functional Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str. 11, Seewiesen, 82319 Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
|
18
|
Jiang T, Wu H, Feng J. Patterns and causes of geographic variation in bat echolocation pulses. Integr Zool 2016; 10:241-56. [PMID: 25664901 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary biologists have a long-standing interest in how acoustic signals in animals vary geographically, because divergent ecology and sensory perception play an important role in speciation. Geographic comparisons are valuable in determining the factors that influence divergence of acoustic signals. Bats are social mammals and they depend mainly on echolocation pulses to locate prey, to navigate and to communicate. Mounting evidence shows that geographic variation of bat echolocation pulses is common, with a mean 5-10 kHz differences in peak frequency, and a high level of individual variation may be nested in this geographical variation. However, understanding the geographic variation of echolocation pulses in bats is very difficult, because of differences in sample and statistical analysis techniques as well as the variety of factors shaping the vocal geographic evolution. Geographic differences in echolocation pulses of bats generally lack latitudinal, longitudinal and elevational patterns, and little is known about vocal dialects. Evidence is accumulating to support the fact that geographic variation in echolocation pulses of bats may be caused by genetic drift, cultural drift, ecological selection, sexual selection and social selection. Future studies could relate geographic differences in echolocation pulses to social adaptation, vocal learning strategies and patterns of dispersal. In addition, new statistical techniques and acoustic playback experiments may help to illustrate the causes and consequences of the geographic evolution of echolocation pulse in bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tinglei Jiang
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration of National Environmental Protection, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Hui Wu
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration of National Environmental Protection, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Grilliot ME, Burnett SC, Mendonça MT. Choice Experiments Demonstrate that Male Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) Prefer Echolocation Calls of High Copulatory Females. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2015. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2015.17.2.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
20
|
Fu ZY, Dai XY, Xu N, Shi Q, Li GJ, Li B, Li J, Li J, Tang J, Jen PHS, Chen QC. Sexual dimorphism in echolocation pulse parameters of the CF-FM bat, Hipposideros pratti. Zool Stud 2015; 54:e44. [PMID: 31966131 DOI: 10.1186/s40555-015-0123-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previousstudies of sexual dimorphism in the echolocation pulses of the constant frequency-frequency modulating (CF-FM) bat have been mainly concentrated on the difference in the frequency of the CF component of the predominant second harmonic while neglected other pulse parameters. However, recent studies have shown that other pulse parameters of the predominant second harmonic are also biologically significant to the bat hunting. To complement and advance these studies, we have examined sexual dimorphism of multiple parameters (e.g., duration, frequency, bandwidth of the FM component, and repetition rate of emitted pulses) of the echolocation pulses of the CF-FM bat, Hipposideros pratti. RESULTS Our studies of the predominant second harmonic show that on average the male bat has higher frequency of the CF component, wider FM bandwidth, and higher pulse repetition rate while the female bat has longer duration of the CF and FM components. CONCLUSIONS Theseobservations suggest that bats may potentially use this sexual dimorphism in echolocation pulse parameters for social communication and species and sex identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Ying Fu
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Xing-Yue Dai
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Na Xu
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Qing Shi
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Gao-Jing Li
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Bin Li
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Jia Tang
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| | - Philip Hung-Sun Jen
- College of Special Education, Binzhou Medical College, Yantai, Shandong, China.,Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, China.,Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Qi-Cai Chen
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Lab of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079Hubei, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
|
22
|
Colombelli-Négrel D, Hauber ME, Kleindorfer S. Prenatal learning in an Australian songbird: habituation and individual discrimination in superb fairy-wren embryos. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20141154. [PMID: 25355472 PMCID: PMC4240978 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryos were traditionally considered to possess limited learning abilities because of the immaturity of their developing brains. By contrast, neonates from diverse species show behaviours dependent on prior embryonic experience. Stimulus discrimination is a key component of learning and has been shown by a handful of studies in non-human embryos. Superb fairy-wren embryos (Malurus cyaneus) learn a vocal password that has been taught to them by the attending female during incubation. The fairy-wren embryos use the learned element as their begging call after hatching to solicit more parental feeding. In this study, we test whether superb fairy-wren embryos have the capacity to discriminate between acoustical stimuli and whether they show non-associative learning. We measured embryonic heart rate response using a habituation/dishabituation paradigm with eggs sourced from nests in the wild. Fairy-wren embryos lowered their heart rate in response to the broadcasts of conspecific versus heterospecific calls, and in response to the calls of novel conspecific individuals. Thus, fairy-wrens join humans as vocal-learning species with known prenatal learning and individual discrimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark E Hauber
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sonia Kleindorfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Grilliot ME, Burnett SC, Mendonça MT. Sex and Season Differences in the Echolocation Pulses of Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and Their Relation to Mating Activity. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2014. [DOI: 10.3161/150811014x687332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
24
|
Veselka N, McGuire L, Dzal Y, Hooton L, Fenton M. Spatial variation in the echolocation calls of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). CAN J ZOOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2013-0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We studied spatial variation in echolocation call structure of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus (LeConte, 1831)) by analysing calls recorded from free-flying individuals at 1 site in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, 1 site in Chautaqua, New York, and 20 sites along the Hudson River, New York. We controlled for factors that are often thought to lead to interspecific variation in echolocation calls (habitat, ontogeny, presence of conspecifics, recording techniques, ambient conditions), which allowed us to focus on the effect of spatial scale on call structure. As predicted, we found that at small scales (up to 1 km), there was significant geographic variation, likely owing to roost-specific signatures and group foraging activities. At intermediate scales (2–500 km), we found no differences in call structure, suggesting that populations within this area are part of a single hibernating and breeding population. Finally, echolocation call structure differed at the continental scale (>1000 km) likely because of little genetic exchange among sampled populations. Our results highlight the importance of considering the magnitude of spatial scale when examining variation in echolocation call structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N. Veselka
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - L.P. McGuire
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Y.A. Dzal
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - L.A. Hooton
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - M.B. Fenton
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Kastein HB, Winter R, Vinoth Kumar AK, Kandula S, Schmidt S. Perception of individuality in bat vocal communication: discrimination between, or recognition of, interaction partners? Anim Cogn 2013; 16:945-59. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-013-0628-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Revised: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
26
|
Levin E, Roll U, Dolev A, Yom-Tov Y, Kronfeld-Shcor N. Bats of a gender flock together: sexual segregation in a subtropical bat. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54987. [PMID: 23441148 PMCID: PMC3575394 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Competition has long been assumed to be a major driver in regulating ecological communities. Intra-specific competition is considered to be maximal as members of the same species use the same ecological niches in a similar way. Many species of animals exhibit great physiological, behavioral, and morphological differences between sexes (sexual dimorphism). Here we report an extreme geographical segregation between the sexes in the greater mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum). To gain insight into the driving mechanisms of sexual segregation outside the mating season, we collected and integrated environmental, behavioral, physiological, and spatial information. We found that both sexes choose roosts with similar characteristics and the same food type, but use different habitats for different durations. Males forage around cliffs at higher and cooler elevations while females forage in lowlands around a river delta. We suggest that it is their different physiological and social needs, and not competition, that drives sexual segregation in this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eran Levin
- Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Current state of understanding of ultrasonic detectors for the study of bat ecology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-013-0131-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
28
|
Scheumann M, Roser AE, Konerding W, Bleich E, Hedrich HJ, Zimmermann E. Vocal correlates of sender-identity and arousal in the isolation calls of domestic kitten (Felis silvestris catus). Front Zool 2012; 9:36. [PMID: 23259698 PMCID: PMC3551667 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-9-36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED INTRODUCTION Human speech does not only communicate linguistic information but also paralinguistic features, e.g. information about the identity and the arousal state of the sender. Comparable morphological and physiological constraints on vocal production in mammals suggest the existence of commonalities encoding sender-identity and the arousal state of a sender across mammals. To explore this hypothesis and to investigate whether specific acoustic parameters encode for sender-identity while others encode for arousal, we studied infants of the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus). Kittens are an excellent model for analysing vocal correlates of sender-identity and arousal. They strongly depend on the care of their mother. Thus, the acoustical conveyance of sender-identity and arousal may be important for their survival. RESULTS We recorded calls of 18 kittens in an experimentally-induced separation paradigm, where kittens were spatially separated from their mother and siblings. In the Low arousal condition, infants were just separated without any manipulation. In the High arousal condition infants were handled by the experimenter. Multi-parametric sound analyses revealed that kitten isolation calls are individually distinct and differ between the Low and High arousal conditions. Our results suggested that source- and filter-related parameters are important for encoding sender-identity, whereas time-, source- and tonality-related parameters are important for encoding arousal. CONCLUSION Comparable findings in other mammalian lineages provide evidence for commonalities in non-verbal cues encoding sender-identity and arousal across mammals comparable to paralinguistic cues in humans. This favours the establishment of general concepts for voice recognition and emotions in humans and animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Scheumann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, Hannover D-30559, Germany
| | - Anna-Elisa Roser
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, Hannover D-30559, Germany
| | - Wiebke Konerding
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, Hannover D-30559, Germany
| | - Eva Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, Hannover D-30626, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Hedrich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, Hannover D-30626, Germany
| | - Elke Zimmermann
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, Hannover D-30559, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Übernickel K, Tschapka M, Kalko EKV. Selective Eavesdropping Behaviour in Three Neotropical Bat Species. Ethology 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
30
|
Knörnschild M, Jung K, Nagy M, Metz M, Kalko E. Bat echolocation calls facilitate social communication. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 279:4827-35. [PMID: 23034703 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bat echolocation is primarily used for orientation and foraging but also holds great potential for social communication. The communicative function of echolocation calls is still largely unstudied, especially in the wild. Eavesdropping on vocal signatures encoding social information in echolocation calls has not, to our knowledge, been studied in free-living bats so far. We analysed echolocation calls of the polygynous bat Saccopteryx bilineata and found pronounced vocal signatures encoding sex and individual identity. We showed experimentally that free-living males discriminate approaching male and female conspecifics solely based on their echolocation calls. Males always produced aggressive vocalizations when hearing male echolocation calls and courtship vocalizations when hearing female echolocation calls; hence, they responded with complex social vocalizations in the appropriate social context. Our study demonstrates that social information encoded in bat echolocation calls plays a crucial and hitherto underestimated role for eavesdropping conspecifics and thus facilitates social communication in a highly mobile nocturnal mammal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Knörnschild
- Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Schuchmann M, Puechmaille SJ, Siemers BM. Horseshoe Bats Recognise the Sex of Conspecifics from Their Echolocation Calls. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2012. [DOI: 10.3161/150811012x654376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
32
|
Mann O, Lieberman V, Köhler A, Korine C, Hedworth HE, Voigt-Heucke SL. Finding Your Friends at Densely Populated Roosting Places: Male Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) Distinguish between Familiar and Unfamiliar Conspecifics. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2011. [DOI: 10.3161/150811011x624893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
33
|
Lee WY, Lee SI, Choe JC, Jablonski PG. Wild birds recognize individual humans: experiments on magpies, Pica pica. Anim Cogn 2011; 14:817-25. [PMID: 21614521 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-011-0415-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2010] [Revised: 04/22/2011] [Accepted: 04/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ability to distinguish among heterospecific individuals has been reported in only a few animal species. Humans can be viewed as a special type of heterospecifics because individuals differ widely in behavior, ranging from non-threatening to very threatening toward animals. In this study, we asked whether wild magpies can recognize individual humans who had accessed their nests. We compared the behavior of breeding pairs toward individual humans before and after the humans climbed up to the birds' nests, and also toward climbers and non-climbers. We have evidence for (i) aggressive responses of the magpie pairs toward humans who had repeatedly accessed their nests (climbers) and a lack of response to humans who had not accessed the nest (non-climbers); (ii) a total lack of scolding responses toward climbers by magpie pairs whose nests had not been accessed; (iii) a selective aggressive response to the climber when a climber and a non-climber were presented simultaneously. Taken together, these results suggest that wild magpies can distinguish individual humans that pose a threat to their nests from humans that have not behaved in a threatening way. The magpie is only the third avian species, along with crows and mockingbirds, in which recognition of individual humans has been documented in the wild. Here, we propose a new hypothesis (adopted from psychology) that frequent previous exposure to humans in urban habitats contributes to the ability of birds to discriminate among human individuals. This mechanism, along with high cognitive abilities, may predispose some species to learn to discriminate among human individuals. Experimental tests of these two mechanisms are proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Won Young Lee
- Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution (SNULBEE), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Konerding WS, Brunke J, Schehka S, Zimmermann E. Is acoustic evaluation in a non-primate mammal, the tree shrew, affected by context? Anim Cogn 2011; 14:787-95. [PMID: 21553110 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-011-0411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2010] [Revised: 04/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Sound categorisation plays a crucial role for processing ecological and social stimuli in a species' natural environment. To explore the discrimination and evaluation of sound stimuli in human babies and nonhuman primates, a reciprocal habituation-dishabituation paradigm has been successfully introduced into auditory research. We applied the reciprocal paradigm for the first time to a non-primate mammal, the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri), to examine to what extent non-primate mammals share the ability to evaluate communication calls with primates. Playback stimuli were three types of communication calls, differing distinctively in context and acoustic structure, as well as two artificial control sounds, differing solely in frequency. We assessed the attention towards the playback stimuli by the latency to respond to the test stimulus. Subjects evaluated pairs of communication call types as well as the artificial playback stimuli. Attention towards the test stimuli differed significantly in strength for one pair of communication calls, with subjects dishabituating faster to one category than the other. The comparison of a second pair of communication calls did not show significant differences. Interestingly, subjects also evaluated the artificial control sounds. Findings are only partly in line with results on human and non-human primates. They provided first evidence that in non-primate mammals acoustic evaluation is not solely affected by the sound-associated context but is also linked to unusualness and acoustic cues, such as peak frequency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke S Konerding
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Schuchmann M, Siemers BM. Behavioral evidence for community-wide species discrimination from echolocation calls in bats. Am Nat 2010; 176:72-82. [PMID: 20459322 DOI: 10.1086/652993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Recognizing species identity is crucial for many aspects of animal life and is often mediated by acoustic signals. Although most animals are able to distinguish acoustic signals of their own species from other sympatrically occurring species, it is yet unknown whether animals can distinguish among acoustic signals of different closely related sympatric species. In this context, echolocating bats are a particularly interesting model system: their echolocation system evolved primarily for spatial orientation and foraging, but recent studies indicate that echolocation also has an important communicative function. Yet, the role of echolocation calls for species discrimination and thus potentially for interspecific communication has not been investigated. Using a behavioral discrimination assay, we found that two species of wild horseshoe bats could discriminate calls of their own species from those of three sympatric congeneric species. We further show that the bats were able to discriminate between echolocation calls of different congeneric species from the local community. In both cases, discrimination ability was high despite strong overlap of species' call frequency bands. This study provides the first experimental evidence for species discrimination based on echolocation calls. On a more general level, it shows for the first time that animals can distinguish among acoustic signals of different closely related and ecologically similar species from their local community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maike Schuchmann
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Sensory Ecology Group, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Schuchmann M, Siemers BM. Variability in echolocation call intensity in a community of horseshoe bats: a role for resource partitioning or communication? PLoS One 2010; 5:e12842. [PMID: 20862252 PMCID: PMC2941460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2010] [Accepted: 08/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Only recently data on bat echolocation call intensities is starting to accumulate. Yet, intensity is an ecologically crucial parameter, as it determines the extent of the bats' perceptual space and, specifically, prey detection distance. Interspecifically, we thus asked whether sympatric, congeneric bat species differ in call intensities and whether differences play a role for niche differentiation. Specifically, we investigated whether R. mehelyi that calls at a frequency clearly above what is predicted by allometry, compensates for frequency-dependent loss in detection distance by using elevated call intensity. Maximum echolocation call intensities might depend on body size or condition and thus be used as an honest signal of quality for intraspecific communication. We for the first time investigated whether a size-intensity relation is present in echolocating bats. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We measured maximum call intensities and frequencies for all five European horseshoe bat species. Maximum intensity differed among species largely due to R. euryale. Furthermore, we found no compensation for frequency-dependent loss in detection distance in R. mehelyi. Intraspecifically, there is a negative correlation between forearm lengths and intensity in R. euryale and a trend for a negative correlation between body condition index and intensity in R. ferrumequinum. In R. hipposideros, females had 8 dB higher intensities than males. There were no correlations with body size or sex differences and intensity for the other species. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Based on call intensity and frequency measurements, we estimated echolocation ranges for our study community. These suggest that intensity differences result in different prey detection distances and thus likely play some role for resource access. It is interesting and at first glance counter-intuitive that, where a correlation was found, smaller bats called louder than large individuals. Such negative relationship between size or condition and vocal amplitude may indicate an as yet unknown physiological or sexual selection pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maike Schuchmann
- Sensory Ecology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany.
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Jones G, Siemers BM. The communicative potential of bat echolocation pulses. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2010; 197:447-57. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-010-0565-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2010] [Revised: 07/22/2010] [Accepted: 07/22/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
38
|
Melendez KV, Feng AS. Communication calls of little brown bats display individual-specific characteristics. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2010; 128:919-923. [PMID: 20707462 PMCID: PMC2933263 DOI: 10.1121/1.3455835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2009] [Revised: 05/23/2010] [Accepted: 05/26/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Bats' echolocation signals have been shown to be situation-, colony-, and individual-specific, but whether or not these findings apply to bats' communication signals is not fully understood. The primary goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the communication calls of adult little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) are individual specific. Bats were paired to form focal pairs from June 2007 to August 2008. Each bat's vocalizations were recorded on a PC-based digital recorder with a custom made ultrasonic microphone. The vocal signals were first classified using a previously established classification scheme. Three acoustic parameters (the minimum and maximum frequencies, and the call duration) of two of the dominant call-types, the steep-FM and broadband noise bursts, of individual bats were further analyzed. Discriminant function analysis, and multi- and univariate analyses of variance of these parameters revealed that these vocal signals were individually distinct and likely contain individual signatures to allow bats to identify individuals acoustically.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karla V Melendez
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
A dual function of echolocation: bats use echolocation calls to identify familiar and unfamiliar individuals. Anim Behav 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
40
|
Wilson DR, Mennill DJ. Black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus, can use individually distinctive songs to discriminate among conspecifics. Anim Behav 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
41
|
Shapiro AD. Recognition of individuals within the social group: signature vocalizations. HANDBOOK OF BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-374593-4.00045-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|
42
|
Yovel Y, Melcon ML, Franz MO, Denzinger A, Schnitzler HU. The voice of bats: how greater mouse-eared bats recognize individuals based on their echolocation calls. PLoS Comput Biol 2009; 5:e1000400. [PMID: 19503606 PMCID: PMC2685012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2009] [Accepted: 05/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Echolocating bats use the echoes from their echolocation calls to perceive their
surroundings. The ability to use these continuously emitted calls, whose main
function is not communication, for recognition of individual conspecifics might
facilitate many of the social behaviours observed in bats. Several studies of
individual-specific information in echolocation calls found some evidence for
its existence but did not quantify or explain it. We used a direct paradigm to
show that greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis) can easily
discriminate between individuals based on their echolocation calls and that they
can generalize their knowledge to discriminate new individuals that they were
not trained to recognize. We conclude that, despite their high variability,
broadband bat-echolocation calls contain individual-specific information that is
sufficient for recognition. An analysis of the call spectra showed that
formant-related features are suitable cues for individual recognition. As a
model for the bat's decision strategy, we trained nonlinear statistical
classifiers to reproduce the behaviour of the bats, namely to repeat correct and
incorrect decisions of the bats. The comparison of the bats with the model
strongly implies that the bats are using a prototype classification approach:
they learn the average call characteristics of individuals and use them as a
reference for classification. Animals must recognize each other in order to engage in social behaviour. Vocal
communication signals could be helpful for recognizing individuals, especially
in nocturnal organisms such as bats. Echolocating bats continuously emit special
vocalizations, known as echolocation calls, and perceive their surroundings by
analyzing the returning echoes. In this work we show that bats can use these
vocalizations for the recognition of individuals, despite the fact that their
main function is not communication. We used a statistical approach to analyze
how the bats could do so. We created a computer model that reproduces the
recognition behaviour of the bats. Our model suggests that the bats learn the
average calls of other individuals and recognize individuals by comparing their
calls with the learnt average representations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Yovel
- Animal Physiology, Institute for Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Practically all animals are affected by humans, especially in urban areas. Although most species respond negatively to urbanization, some thrive in human-dominated settings. A central question in urban ecology is why some species adapt well to the presence of humans and others do not. We show that Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) nesting on the campus of a large university rapidly learn to assess the level of threat posed by different humans, and to respond accordingly. In a controlled experiment, we found that as the same human approached and threatened a nest on 4 successive days, mockingbirds flushed from their nest at increasingly greater distances from that human. A different human approaching and threatening the nest identically on the fifth day elicited the same response as the first human on the first day. Likewise, alarm calls and attack flights increased from days 1-4 with the first human, and decreased on day 5 with the second human. These results demonstrate a remarkable ability of a passerine bird to distinguish one human from thousands of others. Also, mockingbirds learned to identify individual humans extraordinarily quickly: after only 2 30-s exposures of the human at the nest. More generally, the varying responses of mockingbirds to intruders suggests behavioral flexibility and a keen awareness of different levels of threat posed by individuals of another species: traits that may predispose mockingbirds and other species of urban wildlife to successful exploitation of human-dominated environments.
Collapse
|
44
|
Ruczyński I, Kalko EKV, Siemers BM. Calls in the Forest: A Comparative Approach to How Bats Find Tree Cavities. Ethology 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2008.01599.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
45
|
|
46
|
Carter GG, Skowronski MD, Faure PA, Fenton B. Antiphonal calling allows individual discrimination in white-winged vampire bats. Anim Behav 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|