Rachel Carlson

I sort of fell into bats by chance, and really the reason I fell into them was because of Austin, because of that enormous urban colony of bats.

I sort of fell into bats by chance, and really the reason I fell into them was because of Austin, because of that enormous urban colony of bats.

I sort of fell into bats by chance, and really the reason I fell into them was because of Austin, because of that enormous urban colony of bats.

I was mesmerized. How on earth are they not bumping into each other? How can they recognize their own echolocation call? How are they also communicating socially with one another?

I was mesmerized. How on earth are they not bumping into each other? How can they recognize their own echolocation call? How are they also communicating socially with one another?

I was mesmerized. How on earth are they not bumping into each other? How can they recognize their own echolocation call? How are they also communicating socially with one another?

And then these frog-eating bats, for example, they are actually listening in on the mating calls of frogs that are much, much lower in frequency. So they've had to evolve basically like another set of hearing sensitivities.

And then these frog-eating bats, for example, they are actually listening in on the mating calls of frogs that are much, much lower in frequency. So they've had to evolve basically like another set of hearing sensitivities.

And then these frog-eating bats, for example, they are actually listening in on the mating calls of frogs that are much, much lower in frequency. So they've had to evolve basically like another set of hearing sensitivities.

So they have enormous ears. This helps with their eavesdropping behavior as they listen in for frog calls and other prey sounds. They also, as you might guess from the name, have this fringe on their chin and lips. And this has been hypothesized as a way to very quickly make chemosensory assessments of prey quality. So whether a frog is palatable or poisonous.

So they have enormous ears. This helps with their eavesdropping behavior as they listen in for frog calls and other prey sounds. They also, as you might guess from the name, have this fringe on their chin and lips. And this has been hypothesized as a way to very quickly make chemosensory assessments of prey quality. So whether a frog is palatable or poisonous.

So they have enormous ears. This helps with their eavesdropping behavior as they listen in for frog calls and other prey sounds. They also, as you might guess from the name, have this fringe on their chin and lips. And this has been hypothesized as a way to very quickly make chemosensory assessments of prey quality. So whether a frog is palatable or poisonous.

So if they heard a particular frog call, they would expect, okay, this is palatable prey. I'm flying for it versus this is a poisonous frog. I'm going to stay away. But what we didn't know is how these acoustic preferences developed.

So if they heard a particular frog call, they would expect, okay, this is palatable prey. I'm flying for it versus this is a poisonous frog. I'm going to stay away. But what we didn't know is how these acoustic preferences developed.

So if they heard a particular frog call, they would expect, okay, this is palatable prey. I'm flying for it versus this is a poisonous frog. I'm going to stay away. But what we didn't know is how these acoustic preferences developed.

Was it something that they were born with? Was it something in between? So the goal of this particular study... was to really probe those juvenile bats, to ask them, what are your preferences for these different frog calls? And how do those compare with adult bats?

Was it something that they were born with? Was it something in between? So the goal of this particular study... was to really probe those juvenile bats, to ask them, what are your preferences for these different frog calls? And how do those compare with adult bats?

Was it something that they were born with? Was it something in between? So the goal of this particular study... was to really probe those juvenile bats, to ask them, what are your preferences for these different frog calls? And how do those compare with adult bats?

These poor male frogs have to make this very loud, conspicuous call. And it's an acoustic beacon. So not only from a distance does it signal to a female frog that here I am, I'm wonderful, I'm attractive, I'm calling at the top of my lungs. It signals that, unfortunately for the male frog, to predators as well. So these frogging bats, that's their first signal that, oh, there's prey in the area.

These poor male frogs have to make this very loud, conspicuous call. And it's an acoustic beacon. So not only from a distance does it signal to a female frog that here I am, I'm wonderful, I'm attractive, I'm calling at the top of my lungs. It signals that, unfortunately for the male frog, to predators as well. So these frogging bats, that's their first signal that, oh, there's prey in the area.