Stephen Burnett - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Stephen Burnett

Research paper thumbnail of Methods to Discriminate Echolocation Calls between Male and Female Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

Georgia journal of science, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Games that Enlist Collective Intelligence to Solve Complex Scientific Problems

Journal of microbiology & biology education, 2016

There is great value in employing the collective problem-solving power of large groups of people.... more There is great value in employing the collective problem-solving power of large groups of people. Technological advances have allowed computer games to be utilized by a diverse population to solve problems. Science games are becoming more popular and cover various areas such as sequence alignments, DNA base-pairing, and protein and RNA folding. While these tools have been developed for the general population, they can also be used effectively in the classroom to teach students about various topics. Many games also employ a social component that entices students to continue playing and thereby to continue learning. The basic functions of game play and the potential of game play as a tool in the classroom are discussed in this article.

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching About Ethics and the Process of Science Using Retracted Publications

Journal of College Science Teaching, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Treating mites in a bat colony: a case study

Lab animal, 2002

Since many bats used in research are wild-caught, dealing with mite infestation can present a uni... more Since many bats used in research are wild-caught, dealing with mite infestation can present a unique challenge to the animal care staff. The authors tested the efficacy of fipronil spray for eliminating mites from a bat colony.

Research paper thumbnail of Sex and Season Differences in the Echolocation Pulses of Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and Their Relation to Mating Activity

Acta Chiropterologica, 2014

Although several studies have reported inter-and intra-individual variation in the echolocation p... more Although several studies have reported inter-and intra-individual variation in the echolocation pulses of big brown bats, relatively few have explored its function in the context of courtship and mating. In this study, we tested for sex and seasonal differences in the echolocation pulses of male and female big brown bats, and related these differences to mating activity. We recorded the echolocation pulses of adult female and male big brown bats in a controlled laboratory environment during the mating and three non-mating seasons. Factor analysis was used to reduce the number of call variables into two principle components (PC1 and PC2). Call components related to PC2 were significantly sexually dimorphic in the mating season. However, no call components were significantly sexually dimorphic in the non-mating season. In addition, we found a significant correlation between PC1 and the mating score of male bats. There was no significant correlation between principle components and the mating score of female bats. Our results provide additional support for the current literature that suggests a communicative function for bat echolocation pulses. Furthermore, it suggests that differences in the echolocation pulses of male and female bats may be important in the mating activity of this group.

Research paper thumbnail of Computer technology and bioacoustics

Proceedings of the International Conference on Applications of Computer and Information Sciences to Nature Research - ACISNR '10, 2010

Advances in computer technology allow researchers to work with data sets that would have previous... more Advances in computer technology allow researchers to work with data sets that would have previously been unavailable or impossible to analyze. When working with the ultrasonic sounds produced by bats, computer equipment is needed both for recording and data analysis. Because a bat can produce so many signals in a short time, the amount of data is simply too large for manual analyses. We have developed a set of programs in Matlab to address several different types of issues related to these types of recordings. This includes "extraction" programs that take a long segment of recorded sounds and identifies and saves each of the ultrasonic vocalizations for analysis. We have also developed "analysis" programs that analyze the individual calls produced by the extraction programs. Finally we have developed "experimental" programs that can monitor a bat's behavior, and inform a researcher of changes in that behavior. The majority of these routines are tied together by the common use of Matlab, but some do depend on other programs. We hope to develop these programs so other researchers will have the ability to write similar routines that could be used to extend or modify the functionality of the software. The ability to compile these programs also allows them to be distributed to other researchers, further expanding their usefulness.

Research paper thumbnail of The use of neural networks to classify echolocation calls of bats

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1999

The use of neural networks to classify echolocation calls of bats. [The Journal of the Acoustical... more The use of neural networks to classify echolocation calls of bats. [The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 106, 2189 (1999)]. Stephen C. Burnett, W. Mitchell Masters. Abstract. The echolocation calls of bats contain substantial ...

Research paper thumbnail of The digital archiving project at the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1999

The digital archiving project at the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics. [The Journal of the Acous... more The digital archiving project at the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics. [The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 106, 2190 (1999)]. Douglas A. Nelson, Sandra LL Gaunt, CL Bronson, Stephen C. Burnett, Gerald E. Hough II, Kim Beeman. Abstract. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Sexual Dimorphism in Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Ultrasonic Vocalizations is Context Dependent

Journal of Mammalogy, 2009

Although bats are well known for their use of ultrasound for echolocation, there is limited evide... more Although bats are well known for their use of ultrasound for echolocation, there is limited evidence for its use in a social context. We tested whether ultrasonic vocalizations in bats were contextually (roosting or flying) sexually dimorphic. During the reproductive season, we recorded ultrasonic signals of captive adult male and female big brown bats while the bats were flying on tether lines in the field, and compared these signals to ultrasonic vocalizations made while roosting in an anechoic chamber. Principal component analysis reduced 7 ultrasonic call descriptors to 2 components that related to frequency (PC1) and time or shape (PC2). While bats were roosting, ultrasonic call components related to time or shape and frequency were both sexually dimorphic, being increased in males in each instance. However, when bats were recorded while flying, these same call components were no longer sexually dimorphic. This finding suggests that bats are changing their ultrasonic calls in relation to functional context, making them monomorphic and utilitarian for activities such as foraging and navigation, but dimorphic in a situation when mating activity is likely.

Research paper thumbnail of Individual and Group Variation in Echolocation Calls of Big Brown Bats,Eptesicus Fuscus(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Journal of Mammalogy, 2001

We explored the ability to discriminate between echolocation calls of 20 adult and 20 juvenile bi... more We explored the ability to discriminate between echolocation calls of 20 adult and 20 juvenile big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Variables describing each call were entered into discriminant function analyses (DFAs) to assess the success of call separation by age, sex, and individual. In agreement with earlier findings of age-dependent differences in the echolocation calls of big brown bats, we could discriminate calls by age class (juvenile versus adult) with 75% correct classification by DFA. We were not able to separate calls by sex. For discrimination of individuals, we found 63% correct classification (compared with 2.5% expected by chance alone). Correct classification was significantly higher for adults than for juveniles (74% versus 69%), perhaps indicating that calls become more stable as a bat ages.

Research paper thumbnail of Detection of jitter in intertarget spacing by the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus

Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology, 1997

We trained bats to detect intertarget jitter, i.e., relative motion between two virtual (electron... more We trained bats to detect intertarget jitter, i.e., relative motion between two virtual (electronically synthesized) targets. Both targets were themselves moving with respect to nearby objects (e.g., the microphone and speaker used to create the virtual targets) so that the only reliable cue available to the bats was variation in intertarget spacing. Given a target at 80 cm and another at 95, 110 or 125 cm, the threshold for intertarget jitter (ITJ) of the two bats tested was <10 ls, corresponding to <1.7 mm of range. When, for one bat, we increased the range instability of the targets by adding varying amounts of random range shift to the target complex (while preserving the correct intertarget spacing), ITJ threshold worsened. When we presented three targets, one of which was jittering, the bat's threshold improved to 0.9 ls (equivalent to 0.16 mm). If no second target was presented, i.e., if the task was to detect jitter added to a single moving target, then bats' jitter threshold was very high (>200 ls). Eptesicus fuscus appears to be very good at detecting changes in intertarget spacing, which might prove valuable for detecting targets moving relative to the background or for constructing a spatial image of a complex environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Preparing Ethical Chemists through a Second-Year Seminar Course

Journal of Chemical Education, 2012

Ethics is an important part of science and is often omitted from a packed undergraduate curriculu... more Ethics is an important part of science and is often omitted from a packed undergraduate curriculum. This article describes a second-year seminar course developed for chemistry majors that focuses on career preparation and the improvement of essential student skills, such as communication skills and preparation for independent research. The central unifying theme of the course was scientific ethics. The seminar course offered multiple opportunities for students to evaluate, share, and develop an understanding of scientific ethics. Through this course we have demonstrated that second-year students, who typically lack a higher understanding of chemistry, can still be exposed to, discuss, and understand ethical ideas. The work completed by the students, including discussions and presentations, demonstrated their understanding of ethical concerns in a scientific environment and has better prepared them for advanced undergraduate work and their future careers in science.

Research paper thumbnail of Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) Recognize Individual Identity of Conspecifics Using Sonar Calls

Ethology, 2008

Bats use sonar calls to locate prey and orient in their environment but they may also be used by ... more Bats use sonar calls to locate prey and orient in their environment but they may also be used by conspecifics to obtain information about a caller. Statistical analysis of sonar calls provides evidence that variation carries social information about a caller, including individual ...

Research paper thumbnail of Individual variation in the echolocation calls of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and their potential for acoustic identification and censusing

We compared the discriminability of the echolocation calls of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) i... more We compared the discriminability of the echolocation calls of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in three situations: (a)while held in the hand, (b)while perched on a platform, and (c)while flying in an anechoic chamber. Using variables describing each sonar call, we employed discriminant function analysis (DFA) to assign calls to bat across recording situations (which yielded 72% success), and, within

Research paper thumbnail of Discriminating Individual Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus Fuscus) Sonar Vocalizations in Different Recording Situations

Bioacoustics, 2001

Previous studies have found variability and individual distinctiveness in the echolocation calls ... more Previous studies have found variability and individual distinctiveness in the echolocation calls of bats. We consider two implications of individually distinct echolocation calls: 1) whether bats may be able to use such variation to recognise familiar conspecifics, and 2) whether investigators could use such variation to identify known individuals or to census populations. We compared the discriminability of the echolocation

Research paper thumbnail of Methods to Discriminate Echolocation Calls between Male and Female Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

Georgia journal of science, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Games that Enlist Collective Intelligence to Solve Complex Scientific Problems

Journal of microbiology & biology education, 2016

There is great value in employing the collective problem-solving power of large groups of people.... more There is great value in employing the collective problem-solving power of large groups of people. Technological advances have allowed computer games to be utilized by a diverse population to solve problems. Science games are becoming more popular and cover various areas such as sequence alignments, DNA base-pairing, and protein and RNA folding. While these tools have been developed for the general population, they can also be used effectively in the classroom to teach students about various topics. Many games also employ a social component that entices students to continue playing and thereby to continue learning. The basic functions of game play and the potential of game play as a tool in the classroom are discussed in this article.

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching About Ethics and the Process of Science Using Retracted Publications

Journal of College Science Teaching, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Treating mites in a bat colony: a case study

Lab animal, 2002

Since many bats used in research are wild-caught, dealing with mite infestation can present a uni... more Since many bats used in research are wild-caught, dealing with mite infestation can present a unique challenge to the animal care staff. The authors tested the efficacy of fipronil spray for eliminating mites from a bat colony.

Research paper thumbnail of Sex and Season Differences in the Echolocation Pulses of Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and Their Relation to Mating Activity

Acta Chiropterologica, 2014

Although several studies have reported inter-and intra-individual variation in the echolocation p... more Although several studies have reported inter-and intra-individual variation in the echolocation pulses of big brown bats, relatively few have explored its function in the context of courtship and mating. In this study, we tested for sex and seasonal differences in the echolocation pulses of male and female big brown bats, and related these differences to mating activity. We recorded the echolocation pulses of adult female and male big brown bats in a controlled laboratory environment during the mating and three non-mating seasons. Factor analysis was used to reduce the number of call variables into two principle components (PC1 and PC2). Call components related to PC2 were significantly sexually dimorphic in the mating season. However, no call components were significantly sexually dimorphic in the non-mating season. In addition, we found a significant correlation between PC1 and the mating score of male bats. There was no significant correlation between principle components and the mating score of female bats. Our results provide additional support for the current literature that suggests a communicative function for bat echolocation pulses. Furthermore, it suggests that differences in the echolocation pulses of male and female bats may be important in the mating activity of this group.

Research paper thumbnail of Computer technology and bioacoustics

Proceedings of the International Conference on Applications of Computer and Information Sciences to Nature Research - ACISNR '10, 2010

Advances in computer technology allow researchers to work with data sets that would have previous... more Advances in computer technology allow researchers to work with data sets that would have previously been unavailable or impossible to analyze. When working with the ultrasonic sounds produced by bats, computer equipment is needed both for recording and data analysis. Because a bat can produce so many signals in a short time, the amount of data is simply too large for manual analyses. We have developed a set of programs in Matlab to address several different types of issues related to these types of recordings. This includes "extraction" programs that take a long segment of recorded sounds and identifies and saves each of the ultrasonic vocalizations for analysis. We have also developed "analysis" programs that analyze the individual calls produced by the extraction programs. Finally we have developed "experimental" programs that can monitor a bat's behavior, and inform a researcher of changes in that behavior. The majority of these routines are tied together by the common use of Matlab, but some do depend on other programs. We hope to develop these programs so other researchers will have the ability to write similar routines that could be used to extend or modify the functionality of the software. The ability to compile these programs also allows them to be distributed to other researchers, further expanding their usefulness.

Research paper thumbnail of The use of neural networks to classify echolocation calls of bats

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1999

The use of neural networks to classify echolocation calls of bats. [The Journal of the Acoustical... more The use of neural networks to classify echolocation calls of bats. [The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 106, 2189 (1999)]. Stephen C. Burnett, W. Mitchell Masters. Abstract. The echolocation calls of bats contain substantial ...

Research paper thumbnail of The digital archiving project at the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1999

The digital archiving project at the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics. [The Journal of the Acous... more The digital archiving project at the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics. [The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 106, 2190 (1999)]. Douglas A. Nelson, Sandra LL Gaunt, CL Bronson, Stephen C. Burnett, Gerald E. Hough II, Kim Beeman. Abstract. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Sexual Dimorphism in Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Ultrasonic Vocalizations is Context Dependent

Journal of Mammalogy, 2009

Although bats are well known for their use of ultrasound for echolocation, there is limited evide... more Although bats are well known for their use of ultrasound for echolocation, there is limited evidence for its use in a social context. We tested whether ultrasonic vocalizations in bats were contextually (roosting or flying) sexually dimorphic. During the reproductive season, we recorded ultrasonic signals of captive adult male and female big brown bats while the bats were flying on tether lines in the field, and compared these signals to ultrasonic vocalizations made while roosting in an anechoic chamber. Principal component analysis reduced 7 ultrasonic call descriptors to 2 components that related to frequency (PC1) and time or shape (PC2). While bats were roosting, ultrasonic call components related to time or shape and frequency were both sexually dimorphic, being increased in males in each instance. However, when bats were recorded while flying, these same call components were no longer sexually dimorphic. This finding suggests that bats are changing their ultrasonic calls in relation to functional context, making them monomorphic and utilitarian for activities such as foraging and navigation, but dimorphic in a situation when mating activity is likely.

Research paper thumbnail of Individual and Group Variation in Echolocation Calls of Big Brown Bats,Eptesicus Fuscus(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Journal of Mammalogy, 2001

We explored the ability to discriminate between echolocation calls of 20 adult and 20 juvenile bi... more We explored the ability to discriminate between echolocation calls of 20 adult and 20 juvenile big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Variables describing each call were entered into discriminant function analyses (DFAs) to assess the success of call separation by age, sex, and individual. In agreement with earlier findings of age-dependent differences in the echolocation calls of big brown bats, we could discriminate calls by age class (juvenile versus adult) with 75% correct classification by DFA. We were not able to separate calls by sex. For discrimination of individuals, we found 63% correct classification (compared with 2.5% expected by chance alone). Correct classification was significantly higher for adults than for juveniles (74% versus 69%), perhaps indicating that calls become more stable as a bat ages.

Research paper thumbnail of Detection of jitter in intertarget spacing by the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus

Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology, 1997

We trained bats to detect intertarget jitter, i.e., relative motion between two virtual (electron... more We trained bats to detect intertarget jitter, i.e., relative motion between two virtual (electronically synthesized) targets. Both targets were themselves moving with respect to nearby objects (e.g., the microphone and speaker used to create the virtual targets) so that the only reliable cue available to the bats was variation in intertarget spacing. Given a target at 80 cm and another at 95, 110 or 125 cm, the threshold for intertarget jitter (ITJ) of the two bats tested was <10 ls, corresponding to <1.7 mm of range. When, for one bat, we increased the range instability of the targets by adding varying amounts of random range shift to the target complex (while preserving the correct intertarget spacing), ITJ threshold worsened. When we presented three targets, one of which was jittering, the bat's threshold improved to 0.9 ls (equivalent to 0.16 mm). If no second target was presented, i.e., if the task was to detect jitter added to a single moving target, then bats' jitter threshold was very high (>200 ls). Eptesicus fuscus appears to be very good at detecting changes in intertarget spacing, which might prove valuable for detecting targets moving relative to the background or for constructing a spatial image of a complex environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Preparing Ethical Chemists through a Second-Year Seminar Course

Journal of Chemical Education, 2012

Ethics is an important part of science and is often omitted from a packed undergraduate curriculu... more Ethics is an important part of science and is often omitted from a packed undergraduate curriculum. This article describes a second-year seminar course developed for chemistry majors that focuses on career preparation and the improvement of essential student skills, such as communication skills and preparation for independent research. The central unifying theme of the course was scientific ethics. The seminar course offered multiple opportunities for students to evaluate, share, and develop an understanding of scientific ethics. Through this course we have demonstrated that second-year students, who typically lack a higher understanding of chemistry, can still be exposed to, discuss, and understand ethical ideas. The work completed by the students, including discussions and presentations, demonstrated their understanding of ethical concerns in a scientific environment and has better prepared them for advanced undergraduate work and their future careers in science.

Research paper thumbnail of Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) Recognize Individual Identity of Conspecifics Using Sonar Calls

Ethology, 2008

Bats use sonar calls to locate prey and orient in their environment but they may also be used by ... more Bats use sonar calls to locate prey and orient in their environment but they may also be used by conspecifics to obtain information about a caller. Statistical analysis of sonar calls provides evidence that variation carries social information about a caller, including individual ...

Research paper thumbnail of Individual variation in the echolocation calls of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and their potential for acoustic identification and censusing

We compared the discriminability of the echolocation calls of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) i... more We compared the discriminability of the echolocation calls of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in three situations: (a)while held in the hand, (b)while perched on a platform, and (c)while flying in an anechoic chamber. Using variables describing each sonar call, we employed discriminant function analysis (DFA) to assign calls to bat across recording situations (which yielded 72% success), and, within

Research paper thumbnail of Discriminating Individual Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus Fuscus) Sonar Vocalizations in Different Recording Situations

Bioacoustics, 2001

Previous studies have found variability and individual distinctiveness in the echolocation calls ... more Previous studies have found variability and individual distinctiveness in the echolocation calls of bats. We consider two implications of individually distinct echolocation calls: 1) whether bats may be able to use such variation to recognise familiar conspecifics, and 2) whether investigators could use such variation to identify known individuals or to census populations. We compared the discriminability of the echolocation