Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
September 1968
Abstract
Bioacoustics is defined as the study of biologically significant sounds ori-ginated by animals, and the mechanisms which produce and receive these sounds. Many of these sounds are audible to the human ear but some are above the human hearing range and fall into the ultrasonics class. There are sounds used by animals which are near or below the normal human hearing range in pitch, as in certain fish. Bioacoustics comprises a broad field of investigation and is an area which has only recently been explored. Improvements in electronic audio equipment have provided the impetus which launched recent bioacoustical investigations and as this equipment is further perfected we may expect additional startling developments. Our concern here, today, is with the status of Bioacoustics as it is applied to the control of pest animals, particularly birds. This phase is popularly known as bio-sonics.