Echolocation Bats navigate at night in search of food using a system called echolocation.
They send out very high sounds, in the form of short bursts. The sounds are too high-pitched for human beings to hear. The sounds bounce off objects and return as echoes, helping the animals to determine the direction and distance of anything in their path. Bats can detect and catch insects in the air. If the sound bounces off a moth moving away from the bat, the note drops (downward Doppler shift). If the sound bounces off a moth moving toward the bat, the note will rise.The extent of the shift depends on the moth's speed. Some bats hum and snort their pulses through the nose; these species have complex nostrils froming a "nose leaf," which directs and modifies the sound pulse. Others shout their ultrasound through open mouths. This system of echolocation is similar to the sonar and radar systems developed by people for navigation under the sea and in the air.
Copyright 2005 Courier-Post. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated December, 2002). For questions, comments, or problems contact us.
