Presentation Details
| Bats in the City: How Anthropogenic Infrastructure Influences Echolocation and Species Abundance Emily N Flores, Vijayan Sundararaj. Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas, USA |
Abstract
Urbanization and its associated built-up areas pose a unique challenge to bat navigation and echolocation by causing “acoustic clutter and mirrors”. Bats respond to the anthropogenic structures by producing higher frequency and shorter signals. Bioacoustics serves as a promising approach to understanding how bats adapt their echolocation to deal with complex structures. This study monitored bat echolocation at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. We investigated how anthropogenic structures influence bat echolocation behavior, focusing on frequency range and pulse rate, and assessed associated patterns of species abundance across two habitats. Four ultrasonic acoustic recording units were deployed to compare acoustic properties in open areas and built-up structures across the campus landscape. The findings reveal at least 8 species at each site and a preference for open spaces, where ultrasonic waves are easily transmitted. Additionally, frequency ranged from 20-40 kHz across all sites while pulse rate increased in a cluttered area, suggesting site-specific communication. These results suggest that bats modify echolocation behavior in response to urban structures.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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