work in progress please do not distribute Echolocation Call Characteristics of Arizona Bats 4 6 ( 6)

Transcription

1 Echolocation Call Characteristics of Arizona Bats californicus California (>32) 6 13 FM sweep a smooth curve (i.e., no inflection), beginning steeply and then increasing in curvature*. Often a well defined downward tail. Sometimes a lower inflection; with the appearance of a ledge or shelf before ƒ c. Peak power of call typically persists for at least 1 ms on non saturated calls. 5 yumanensis Yuma ( 6) (<3) *some calls may have an inflection, but the smoothly curved variant is diagnostic. Power focused around ƒ c ; gradually builds up to peak and attenuates rapidly. Typically exhibit only a hint of a tail. Sometimes insert longer duration calls within sequence of short duration calls. Pipistrellus hesperus western pipistrelle Strongly inflected, almost vertical FM changing to low slope below 47 khz for the majority of the call. Calls generally consistent across a sequence. Appear hockey stick shaped in sonogram when FM sweep is present. Some calls exhibit squiggles. How to use this table Ranges listed cover mean ± standard deviation. Bold text indicates the most species discriminating characteristics. Analyze 1) well formed calls, i.e., search phase calls recorded from s in a steady mode of flight and not accelerating or performing some other maneuver that elicits rapid, short calls, e.g., like that from a hand released, and 2) calls with a strong signal that clearly rise above the background noise level. It is generally preferable to avoid analyzing calls that saturate, i.e., overload, the detector or recorder. However, saturated call specimens may be used to interpret nonsaturating low power call characteristics such as low and high ƒ; but do not use saturated call specimens for interpreting power characteristics. Terminology and key lo ƒ: lowest apparent frequency (khz), hi ƒ: highest apparent frequency (khz); this can vary depending upon the distance to the, ƒ c : characteristic frequency, i.e., the frequency of the call at its lowest slope, or the lowest frequency for consistent FM sweeps (khz), ƒ max : the frequency with the greatest power (khz), dur: call duration from the beginning to the end of the call (ms), upper: the slope of the upper portion or onset of the call (khz/ms), lower: the slope of the lower portion or body of the call (khz/ms). FM: frequency modulation, i.e., a change in frequency with time, flat: a call or portion of a call with a very low slope or no slope (horizontal), inflection: a pronounced change in the slope of a call, sometimes called a knee, power: the amplitude or sound energy of a call or portions of a call, squiggle: an S-shaped variation in frequency with time over a portion of the call. Humboldt State University Bat Lab February 28 1

2 4 auriculus southwestern ciliolabrum small footed volans hairy winged lucifugus little brown velifer cave < > < > ( ) (>11) 7 94 (<85) (>6) (>33) (>16) 3 1 (<3) Shorter calls have higher ƒc. Calls longer than 5 ms, lower slope >3, ƒc most species-distinctive. Power may be pulsed at inflection. FM sweep a smooth curve (i.e., no inflection), beginning steeply and then increasing in curvature*. Often a well defined downward tail. Peak power of call typically persists for at least 1 ms on non saturated calls. *some calls may have an inflection, but the smoothly curved variant is diagnostic. May exhibit an upward sweep into the call; uncommon, but diagnostic when present. note Sometimes with multiple power centers making calls look clumpy. Can make the longest duration and lowest slope of all. note at end blossevillii western red (>1) 5 U-shaped calls; up turn at end of call; may exhibit variable ƒ c across sequence. Power smoothly centered in call. xanthinus western yellow Note regarding distinguishing M. volans and M. lucifugus: Short, steep calls from Mylu overlap in characteristics with those from Myvo. To distinguish, record in open areas. In open, uncluttered airspace, Mylu will emit long calls, whereas Myvo will still emit shorter, steeper calls with greater bandwidth than Mylu. Humboldt State University Bat Lab February 28 2

3 evotis long eared Calls may have up to 1 khz of bandwidth. Shaped like Myth but distinguished by ƒ c. FM sweep may be nearly linear making ƒ c difficult to recognize. Choeronycteri s mexicana Mexican longtongued Two or three harmonics typically present, with the power typically in the 2 nd harmonic; may shift power between harmonics, even into 3 rd. S-shaped FM sweep. Italicized text designates parameter values when power is in 2 nd harmonic. Low intensity, difficult to detect. Leptonycteris yerbabuenae lesser longnosed 3 Antrozous pallidus pallid Eptesicus fuscus big brown (65 9) >65* <7* Simple curved FM sweeps without flair. Can only distinguish from Epfu when <6 calls/sec. No tail. Presence of social calls diagnostic. Variable; calls with high ƒ below 6 khz can be confused with Lano and/or Tabr. Calls with high ƒ above 65 khz distinguish from Lano, even long calls have some FM component, i.e., never flat. The end of calls may hook upward. * Shorter calls recorded with full detail, i.e., ones that closely approached the microphone, as indicated by the presence of harmonics, exceed 65-7 khz. Lasionycteris noctivagans silver haired (<3) <55* <7* Shorter calls reverse J shaped; often with a distinct inflection. Some call variants can be confused with Epfu and/or Tabr. Flat calls 26 khz diagnostic. Flat Laci calls are lower in ƒ. Low slope calls in the khz range may be distinguished from Laci by the presence of an inflection. Epfu has more FM, typically with smooth curvature (no inflection). * Shorter calls recorded with full detail, i.e., ones that closely approached the microphone, as indicated by the presence of harmonics, still do not exceed 5-55 khz. Humboldt State University Bat Lab February 28 3

4 Macrotus californicus California leaf-nosed Two or three harmonics typically present, with the power typically in the 2 nd harmonic; may shift power between harmonics, even into 3 rd. S-shaped FM sweep. Italicized text designates parameter values when power is in 2 nd harmonic. Low intensity, difficult to detect. thysanodes fringed (<31) Calls may have up to 1 khz of bandwidth. Shaped like Myev but distinguished by ƒ c. FM sweep may be nearly linear making ƒ c difficult to recognize; fragments of these type of calls may mimic C. townsendii- look for presence of harmonics todistinguish each with confidence. 2 Tadarida brasiliensis free tailed Variable; FM to flat; can be confused with Epfu, Lano, or Laci. Long calls that "turn on" power rapidly with high energy at beginning (oscillogram carrot like). Calls often upswing into call and downswing out of call. Corynorhinus townsendii Townsend s big eared Low intensity, difficult to detect; harmonics often present. Call shape simple linear FM sweep, (sometimes with upsweep at onset). fmax may alternate between fundamental and second harmonic. *some linear Myth fragments can mimic Coto; use presence of harmonics to confirm quality. cinereus hoary ( 23) Pronounced or subtle U shape; very flat calls may have slight downturn into call or upturn at end. Low ƒ may vary across sequence, power builds toward center then gradually declines. Short calls can be confused with Lano, Epfu, or Tabr. Humboldt State University Bat Lab February 28 4

5 Nyctinomops macrotis big free-tailed Nyctinomops femorosaccus pocketed freetailed 1 Eumops perotis mastiff > Simple linear sweeps, long, low. Idionycteris phyllotis Allen s lappeteared < Simple linear FM sweep, sometimes with a mild inflection. Short calls at low frequency. Harmonics often present, with second harmonic persisting beyond first. Euderma maculatum spotted Simple linear FM sweep, sometimes with a mild inflection. Short calls at low frequency. Harmonics often present, with second harmonic persisting beyond first. Sources: Characteristics gleaned from recordings acquired by J.M. Szewczak, Humboldt State University Bat Lab (and Aaron Corcoran, Jean-Paul Kennedy), T.J. Weller, USFS Redwood Sciences Lab, and Patricial C. Ormsbee, USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station, and various contibutors to the Pacific Northwest Bat Grid. Caveat: Please note that the range of characteristics listed in this table overlap among many of the species, and that any individual may sometimes emit calls beyond the typical ranges and call characteristics listed in this table (and mimic another species). This renders acoustic classification of s relatively inexact compared to a process like genotyping. For some species, confident species classification can only be achieved on a subset of call types within its repertoire that falls outside of data space shared with another species. This means that many recordings will have ambiguous species classification. Expect that, and seek the most species-discriminating call types on which to make species determinations. The information presented in the table represents work in progress and is presented with the acknowledgement that it is unlikely to be the definitive description of these species acoustic characteristics. Please use accordingly. Humboldt State University Bat Lab February 28 5