Abstract
The study of bat acoustic signals requires specialized equipment with microphones capable of recording high frequencies. There has been growing interest in bat acoustics and a rapid evolution in ultrasonic recording equipment, from the pioneering work using detectors weighing several kilograms, to the current pocket-sized and open source recorders. The increasing accessibility of bat detectors has extended the field of bat acoustics from simple activity detection to acoustic species identification and experimental research. Traditional call analysis was based on multivariate statistical techniques such as discriminant function analysis. However, technological improvements have led to expanding knowledge regarding the complexity and versatility of bat echolocation, and have kindled the evolution of signal processing methods with new approaches (i.e. deep learning) and more powerful computational techniques. Free access to reference libraries that permit adequate and extensive algorithm comparisons have emerged as a cornerstone for the refinement of automated acoustic analysis. Acoustic surveys have provided important insights into the effects of anthropogenic activities and urbanization on bat activity and diversity. Understanding how human activities affect biodiversity is a crucial prerequisite for the development and application of effective species conservation programs.
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Zamora-Gutierrez, V., MacSwiney G., M.C., Martínez Balvanera, S., Robredo Esquivelzeta, E. (2021). The Evolution of Acoustic Methods for the Study of Bats. In: Lim, B.K., et al. 50 Years of Bat Research. Fascinating Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54727-1_3
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