Detection distances

Estimated bat echolocation detection distances in m for a mealworm (target strength – 40 dB), a small moth (−20 dB), and a large moth (−5 dB) using the estimated maximum source levels for the nine bat species with sufficient data. Values for atmospheric attenuation [38] were taken at the most prominent frequency in the call spectrum for each bat (Tab. 1, Frequency(maxE)). All bats were assumed to have a detection threshold of 20 dB SPL. The eared prey's (moth) detection distances were estimated using average hearing threshold values for tropical nocturnal moths at the most prominent frequency emitted by each bat species (Italics, moth thresholds from [40]). For bat species abbreviations: see Fig. 1