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Bat Echolocation

Topic
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Zoology
  • Science Practices
  • Graph Interpretation
Resource Type
  • Activities
  • Data Points
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Favorited By
3 Users
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Description

This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from a study that tested how bats use echolocation to adjust their hunting behavior.

During echolocation, bats emit ultrasonic sound waves and analyze the returning echoes. After a bat detects prey, it emits a rapid sequence of echolocation signals called the buzz phase. In this study, scientists observed bats hunting to determine the role of the buzz phase in capturing prey. The figure shows the bats’ behaviors as spectrograms (graphs of their echolocation signals) and video snapshots in two panels: one with the bat successfully capturing prey (Panel A), and one with the bat chasing prey that is then removed by the scientists (Panel D).

The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information.

Student Learning Targets
  • Analyze and interpret data from a scientific figure. 
  • Interpret observations of physical and acoustic animal behaviors.
Details
Estimated Time
Within one 50-minute class period.
Key Terms

frequency, prey capture, reaction time, sonar, sound wave, spectrogram

Primary Literature

Geberl, Cornelia, Signe Brinkløv, Lutz Wiegrebe, and Annemarie Surlykke. “Fast sensory-motor reactions in echolocating bats to sudden changes during the final buzz and prey intercept.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112, 13 (2015): 4122–4127. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1424457112.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level

The documents for this resource meet accessibility standards in accordance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act.
Version History
Date Published 01.09.17
Date Updated 01.09.17
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-2, HS-PS4-5; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5

AP Biology (2019)

ENE-4.B; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

A.6

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.A, III.A

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.7
Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-IC.1; MP2, MP5

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP2, DP3

Materials
Student Handout (PDF) 871 KB
Educator Materials (PDF) 1 MB

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