This general area of zoology covers a large spectrum both in terms of topics and endeavors across a huge variety of animals. For me, bats symbolize the diversity of, and connectivity among topics in this area, so I will explore them as an example.
Many of the ~800 species of insectivorous bats use echolocation to detect, track and identify their prey e.g., [10]. In a sense, these animals communicate with themselves, adjusting the design and timing of their echolocation signals to ensure that they obtain accurate information about their prey and the setting in which it is operating. The recent discovery [11] that a Japanese bat (Pipistrellus abramus) begins to track a second target while still closing on the first one is exciting because of the neuroscience and behavior that is involved. Neurobiology underlying echolocation has revealed the elegance, complexity, and accuracy of this form of behavior [10].
We also know that echolocating big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) use sensory hairs to collect information about air flow across their wing membranes [12]. Input from these hairs is fundamental to the maneuverability of flying bats. Still to be determined, however, is how most bats integrate information obtained by echolocation and by vision, because bats are not blind and some have acute eyesight. This is supported by work with Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) which have a mental map of their home ranges [13].
On the other side of the coin, many species of insects, notoriously moths, lacewings, orthopterans, beetles and mantids, have bat detectors, ears allowing them to detect the echolocation calls of marauding bats e.g., [14]. Insects with bat-detecting ears are much less likely to be captured by hunting bats. Some species of tiger moths (Arctiidae) use acoustic displays as aposematic signals or to jam bats’ echolocation [15].
The vampire bat (Fig. 1) emerging from its day roost, adds thermal sensors [16] to its sensory array that includes vision, echolocation, acute hearing, and a high level of olfactory sensitivity. In vampire bats, individual recognition of group members is mediated by at least acoustic and olfactory cues [17]. Other bats also use echolocation calls of conspecifics to locate roosts and concentrations of prey.
Individual vampire bats can beg blood from familiar roost mates that may or may not be genetic relatives. This adds an additional layer of behavior and social interactions to the mix of cognition, sensory biology, signaling and communication. The possibilities are greatly enhanced by recurring evidence of bats learning foraging tasks and identification of prey by watching experienced conspecifics.
I chose bats as an example of the importance of cognition, sensory biology, signaling and communication in the lives of animals and in studies of zoology.
The cognition, sensory biology, signaling and communication section of BMC Zoology will particularly welcome manuscripts that present valid theoretical developments as well as rigorous empirical studies that draw together different aspects of cognition and sensory biology. Making connections to similar studies with other subject species will enhance the readership and impact of the articles. BMC Zoology is an ideal journal to present analyses drawing on large, long-term data sets. The online nature of the Journal makes it well suited to presenting large amounts of data.