Calibrated microphone array recordings reveal that a gleaning bat emits low-intensity echolocation calls even in open-space habitat.

Abstract

Echolocating bats use ultrasound for orientation and prey capture in darkness. Ultrasound is strongly attenuated in air. Consequently, aerial-hawking bats generally emit very intense echolocation calls to maximize detection range. However, call levels vary more than tenfold (>20 dB) between species and are tightly linked to the foraging strategy. The brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) is a primarily gleaning, low-amplitude species that may occasionally hawk airborne prey. We used state-of-the-art calibrated acoustic 3D-localization and automated call analysis to measure P. auritus' source levels. P. auritus emits echolocation calls of low amplitude (92 dB rmsSPL re 20µPa @ 10cm) even while flying in open-space. While P. auritus thus likely benefits from delayed evasive manoeuvres of eared insects, we propose that low-amplitude echolocation did not evolve as an adaptive countermeasure, but is limited by morphological constraints.