Abstract
The dolphin must have a fairly general and flexible sonar system in order to maximize its survival. Since acoustic energy propagates in water more efficiently than almost any other form of energy, a good passive and active sonar system is ideal for the aquatic environment. In order to have good passive and active sonar capabilities, the receiving system of the dolphin should have certain important characteristics. The receiver should be very sensitive over a wide frequency range to detect minute echoes and externally generated sounds. It should also be sensitive in both quiet and noisy environments and should be able to detect short and long duration sounds. A good spectral analysis capability, including frequency discrimination, is important in identifying and recognizing predators, prey, and other objects in the environment. Other important characteristics of a good sonar receiver include the capability to (a) spatially resolve and localize sounds, (b) reject externally generated interferences, and (c) recognize temporal and spectral patterns of sounds. In this chapter, these characteristics of the dolphin’s receiving system will be examined.
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Au, W.W.L. (1993). Characteristics of the Receiving System for Simple Signals. In: The Sonar of Dolphins. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4356-4_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4356-4_3
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