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<p>Acoustic monitoring has become a fundamental method for studying bat ecology, providing non-invasive insights into species activity, behavior, and community composition. However, Argentina still lacks acoustic reference data. This study characterizes the echolocation calls of 16 bat species from the northeastern region of the country, thereby expanding the national acoustic dataset. Recordings were made using an Echo Meter Touch 2 device, primarily through hand-release and zip-line techniques. Additionally, free-flying recordings were included for species that were underrepresented in captures. A total of 853 echolocation pulses were manually measured using Raven Pro software to obtain spectral and temporal parameters. Linear Discriminant Analyses were conducted to assess the potential for species-level identification based on call characteristics. Among phyllostomid species, which produce broadband, downward frequency-modulated, and multi-harmonic calls, classification accuracy reached 74.5%, despite some interspecific overlap. By contrast, aerial insectivores from the families Molossidae, Vespertilionidae, and Noctilionidae exhibited more distinctive call structures, achieving a 99% classification accuracy. Our findings highlight the potential of acoustic monitoring as a tool for species identification, particularly for aerial insectivores. As a remarkable contribution, we present an acoustic identification key based on echolocation call features, integrating both new and existing data for Argentine bats. This information represents a significant contribution toward the future development of a national acoustic library to support ongoing research and monitoring programs.</p>

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Filling acoustic gaps: new insights into the echolocation calls of Argentine bats

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月10日

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  • M. Luz Olmedo,
  • Camila S. González Noschese,
  • M. Julieta Pérez,
  • M. Mónica Díaz

摘要

Acoustic monitoring has become a fundamental method for studying bat ecology, providing non-invasive insights into species activity, behavior, and community composition. However, Argentina still lacks acoustic reference data. This study characterizes the echolocation calls of 16 bat species from the northeastern region of the country, thereby expanding the national acoustic dataset. Recordings were made using an Echo Meter Touch 2 device, primarily through hand-release and zip-line techniques. Additionally, free-flying recordings were included for species that were underrepresented in captures. A total of 853 echolocation pulses were manually measured using Raven Pro software to obtain spectral and temporal parameters. Linear Discriminant Analyses were conducted to assess the potential for species-level identification based on call characteristics. Among phyllostomid species, which produce broadband, downward frequency-modulated, and multi-harmonic calls, classification accuracy reached 74.5%, despite some interspecific overlap. By contrast, aerial insectivores from the families Molossidae, Vespertilionidae, and Noctilionidae exhibited more distinctive call structures, achieving a 99% classification accuracy. Our findings highlight the potential of acoustic monitoring as a tool for species identification, particularly for aerial insectivores. As a remarkable contribution, we present an acoustic identification key based on echolocation call features, integrating both new and existing data for Argentine bats. This information represents a significant contribution toward the future development of a national acoustic library to support ongoing research and monitoring programs.