Flowchart of the simulations.

<div><p>Some echolocating bats, such as <i>Tadarida brasiliensis</i>, fly in groups when emerging from or entering caves. In large, dense swarms, distinguishing self-generated echoes from the multitude of calls and echoes produced by others presents a significant challenge –...

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Main Author: Dieter Vanderelst (338423) (author)
Other Authors: Herbert Peremans (276671) (author)
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1852020347799339008
author Dieter Vanderelst (338423)
author2 Herbert Peremans (276671)
author2_role author
author_facet Dieter Vanderelst (338423)
Herbert Peremans (276671)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Dieter Vanderelst (338423)
Herbert Peremans (276671)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-05-15T18:33:49Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013013.g010
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/figure/Flowchart_of_the_simulations_/29081978
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biophysics
Cell Biology
Neuroscience
Physiology
Biotechnology
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Science Policy
Mental Health
Infectious Diseases
tadarida brasiliensis </
maintain safe distances
local amplitude gradient
emergent acoustic environment
cocktail party nightmare
spectral jamming responses
div >< p
bats might navigate
swarming bats
others presents
findings suggest
findings highlight
entering caves
echolocating bats
distinguishing self
dense swarms
corridor walls
collective soundscape
bats flying
based simulation
avoid obstacles
alternative hypothesis
>, fly
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Flowchart of the simulations.
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Image
Figure
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
image
description <div><p>Some echolocating bats, such as <i>Tadarida brasiliensis</i>, fly in groups when emerging from or entering caves. In large, dense swarms, distinguishing self-generated echoes from the multitude of calls and echoes produced by others presents a significant challenge – akin to a cocktail party nightmare. While spectral jamming responses have been proposed as a solution, this mechanism is unlikely to be effective in such conditions. Here, we propose an alternative hypothesis: rather than isolating their own echoes, bats might navigate by relying on the local amplitude gradient of the collective soundscape. To test this, we developed an agent-based simulation of bats flying through corridors, demonstrating that they can avoid obstacles, including other bats and corridor walls, without distinguishing individual echoes. Our findings suggest that in dense swarms, bats can exploit the emergent acoustic environment to maintain safe distances. The current paper also suggests shifting the perspective on jamming itself. Rather than framing overlapping signals solely as a source of interference, our findings highlight that these signals can also carry useful information, reframing the problem from conflict to cooperative signal processing.</p></div>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara_53c15c8a718cd14fbefbbdd39b8a3cdb
identifier_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013013.g010
network_acronym_str Manara
network_name_str ManaraRepo
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/29081978
publishDate 2025
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository_id_str
rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Flowchart of the simulations.Dieter Vanderelst (338423)Herbert Peremans (276671)BiophysicsCell BiologyNeurosciencePhysiologyBiotechnologyEvolutionary BiologyEcologyScience PolicyMental HealthInfectious Diseasestadarida brasiliensis </maintain safe distanceslocal amplitude gradientemergent acoustic environmentcocktail party nightmarespectral jamming responsesdiv >< pbats might navigateswarming batsothers presentsfindings suggestfindings highlightentering cavesecholocating batsdistinguishing selfdense swarmscorridor wallscollective soundscapebats flyingbased simulationavoid obstaclesalternative hypothesis>, fly<div><p>Some echolocating bats, such as <i>Tadarida brasiliensis</i>, fly in groups when emerging from or entering caves. In large, dense swarms, distinguishing self-generated echoes from the multitude of calls and echoes produced by others presents a significant challenge – akin to a cocktail party nightmare. While spectral jamming responses have been proposed as a solution, this mechanism is unlikely to be effective in such conditions. Here, we propose an alternative hypothesis: rather than isolating their own echoes, bats might navigate by relying on the local amplitude gradient of the collective soundscape. To test this, we developed an agent-based simulation of bats flying through corridors, demonstrating that they can avoid obstacles, including other bats and corridor walls, without distinguishing individual echoes. Our findings suggest that in dense swarms, bats can exploit the emergent acoustic environment to maintain safe distances. The current paper also suggests shifting the perspective on jamming itself. Rather than framing overlapping signals solely as a source of interference, our findings highlight that these signals can also carry useful information, reframing the problem from conflict to cooperative signal processing.</p></div>2025-05-15T18:33:49ZImageFigureinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionimage10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013013.g010https://figshare.com/articles/figure/Flowchart_of_the_simulations_/29081978CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/290819782025-05-15T18:33:49Z
spellingShingle Flowchart of the simulations.
Dieter Vanderelst (338423)
Biophysics
Cell Biology
Neuroscience
Physiology
Biotechnology
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Science Policy
Mental Health
Infectious Diseases
tadarida brasiliensis </
maintain safe distances
local amplitude gradient
emergent acoustic environment
cocktail party nightmare
spectral jamming responses
div >< p
bats might navigate
swarming bats
others presents
findings suggest
findings highlight
entering caves
echolocating bats
distinguishing self
dense swarms
corridor walls
collective soundscape
bats flying
based simulation
avoid obstacles
alternative hypothesis
>, fly
status_str publishedVersion
title Flowchart of the simulations.
title_full Flowchart of the simulations.
title_fullStr Flowchart of the simulations.
title_full_unstemmed Flowchart of the simulations.
title_short Flowchart of the simulations.
title_sort Flowchart of the simulations.
topic Biophysics
Cell Biology
Neuroscience
Physiology
Biotechnology
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Science Policy
Mental Health
Infectious Diseases
tadarida brasiliensis </
maintain safe distances
local amplitude gradient
emergent acoustic environment
cocktail party nightmare
spectral jamming responses
div >< p
bats might navigate
swarming bats
others presents
findings suggest
findings highlight
entering caves
echolocating bats
distinguishing self
dense swarms
corridor walls
collective soundscape
bats flying
based simulation
avoid obstacles
alternative hypothesis
>, fly