Vocal Communication in Bats as a Model System: Evidence from Acoustic, Behavioral, and Physiological Studies

Abstract

Bats rely on ultrasonic echolocation to navigate and forage in dark environments. This ability enables them to detect and localize prey with high precision. Moreover, bats produce a variety of vocal signals, commonly called social calls, for communication and information exchange. Therefore, vocal information is closely linked to behavioral decision-making in echolocating bats. As a result, these animals are a useful model for studying the relationship between vocal communication and behavior. This review focuses on bat communication within the broader context of animal communication studies, outlines key biological and behavioral characteristics of bats, and summarizes recent trends in related research fields. The review also discusses the value of psychophysiological approaches to vocal communication. Furthermore, it considers the author’s own research on bats and future directions for research on vocal communication in wild animals.