Rachel Carlson

So we had only in the past tested adult bats. We captured a whole bunch of bats, both adults and juveniles this time, and we brought them into a flight cage, which is just basically a big screened room. So they're at ambient temperature, ambient light. They have all that normal outdoor sounds. And then really we just played the frog calls one by one and quantified what those reactions were.

So we had only in the past tested adult bats. We captured a whole bunch of bats, both adults and juveniles this time, and we brought them into a flight cage, which is just basically a big screened room. So they're at ambient temperature, ambient light. They have all that normal outdoor sounds. And then really we just played the frog calls one by one and quantified what those reactions were.

So we had only in the past tested adult bats. We captured a whole bunch of bats, both adults and juveniles this time, and we brought them into a flight cage, which is just basically a big screened room. So they're at ambient temperature, ambient light. They have all that normal outdoor sounds. And then really we just played the frog calls one by one and quantified what those reactions were.

So we were wondering to what degree is that eavesdropping behavior really hardwired versus something that needs to develop through experience over time? What this experiment showed was absolutely the latter. It seemed that they really, really do need to have experience with these palatable versus poisonous species to develop the acoustic repertoire that the adults have later in life.

So we were wondering to what degree is that eavesdropping behavior really hardwired versus something that needs to develop through experience over time? What this experiment showed was absolutely the latter. It seemed that they really, really do need to have experience with these palatable versus poisonous species to develop the acoustic repertoire that the adults have later in life.

So we were wondering to what degree is that eavesdropping behavior really hardwired versus something that needs to develop through experience over time? What this experiment showed was absolutely the latter. It seemed that they really, really do need to have experience with these palatable versus poisonous species to develop the acoustic repertoire that the adults have later in life.

It actually is like that in nature. The forest at night in the tropics, it's this cacophony of frog calls and there are many times, many species calling at once. Yeah.

It actually is like that in nature. The forest at night in the tropics, it's this cacophony of frog calls and there are many times, many species calling at once. Yeah.

It actually is like that in nature. The forest at night in the tropics, it's this cacophony of frog calls and there are many times, many species calling at once. Yeah.

And with the juveniles, they actually showed interest in those toxic frogs and toads, which really, coupled with our other experiments over time, led us to think that that learning period is critical for them to develop this fine-scale discrimination of what's safe and what's not in terms of prey approach in the forest.

And with the juveniles, they actually showed interest in those toxic frogs and toads, which really, coupled with our other experiments over time, led us to think that that learning period is critical for them to develop this fine-scale discrimination of what's safe and what's not in terms of prey approach in the forest.

And with the juveniles, they actually showed interest in those toxic frogs and toads, which really, coupled with our other experiments over time, led us to think that that learning period is critical for them to develop this fine-scale discrimination of what's safe and what's not in terms of prey approach in the forest.

This species in particular is fascinating. So these are not even very close evolutionarily, frogs and bats. And yet these bats have figured out basically how to interpret these frog calls, that this one is palatable and this one is poisonous. And I can consistently rely on that for correct discrimination between meals that are safe and meals that are quite risky.

This species in particular is fascinating. So these are not even very close evolutionarily, frogs and bats. And yet these bats have figured out basically how to interpret these frog calls, that this one is palatable and this one is poisonous. And I can consistently rely on that for correct discrimination between meals that are safe and meals that are quite risky.

This species in particular is fascinating. So these are not even very close evolutionarily, frogs and bats. And yet these bats have figured out basically how to interpret these frog calls, that this one is palatable and this one is poisonous. And I can consistently rely on that for correct discrimination between meals that are safe and meals that are quite risky.

So we're fascinated by eavesdropping behavior. And you find eavesdroppers across sensory modalities, across the animal kingdom.

So we're fascinated by eavesdropping behavior. And you find eavesdroppers across sensory modalities, across the animal kingdom.

So we're fascinated by eavesdropping behavior. And you find eavesdroppers across sensory modalities, across the animal kingdom.

Absolutely. Humans do it too. But no, you find it really in nearly every taxonomic group. that you look at. And I think that the ones that we haven't found it in is just because we haven't looked hard enough yet. So this is the first study to our knowledge where we've looked at how eavesdropping predators acquire that specific behavioral strategy.

Absolutely. Humans do it too. But no, you find it really in nearly every taxonomic group. that you look at. And I think that the ones that we haven't found it in is just because we haven't looked hard enough yet. So this is the first study to our knowledge where we've looked at how eavesdropping predators acquire that specific behavioral strategy.