Skip to main content

The Hearing Abilities of Fish

  • Conference paper
Hearing and Sound Communication in Fishes

Part of the book series: Proceedings in Life Sciences ((LIFE SCIENCES))

Abstract

Earlier this century, von Frisch and his pupils paved the way to the objective measurement of the hearing abilities of fish. They trained fish to respond in an unambiguous way to sounds, presenting them with tones of differing frequency and amplitude to explore the limits of their sensitivity. Such techniques form the basis for most modem studies of the hearing capacities of fish.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Banner, A.: Evidence of sensitivity to acoustic displacement in the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris. Bull. Mar. Sci. 17, 741–768 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Banner, A.: Simple velocity hydrophone for bioacoustic application. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 53, 1134–1136 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, B. B.: Measurement of particle velocity in underwater sound. In: Lateral Line Detectors. Cahn, P. (ed.). Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Bergeijk, W. A.: Directional and non-directional hearing in fish. In: Marine Bio-acoustics. Tavolga, W. N. (ed.). Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1964, pp. 281–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brawn, V. M.: Sound production by the cod Gadus callarias L. Behaviour 18, 239–255 (1961).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buerkle, U.: An audiogram of the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 25, 1155–1160 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buerkle, U.: Auditory masking and the critical band in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 26, 1113–1119 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buwalda, R. J. A., van der Steen, J.: The sensitivity of the cod sacculus to directional and non-directional sound stimuli. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 64A, 467–471 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cahn, P., Siler, W., Anwarter, A.: Acoustico-lateralis system of fishes: Cross-modal coupling of signal and noise in the grunt, Haemulon parrai. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 49, 591–594 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cahn, P., Siler, W., Wodinsky, J.: Acoustico-lateralis system of fishes: Tests of pressure and particle-velocity sensitivity in grunts, Haemulon sciurus and Haemulon parrai. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 46, 1572–1578 (1969).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, C. J.: Field studies of hearing in teleost fish. Helgolander Wiss Meeresunters. 24, 371–390 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, C. J., Hawkins, A. D.: A field study of hearing in the cod, Gadus morhua. L. J. Comp. Physiol. 85, 147–167 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, C. J., Johnstone, A. D. F.: Some auditory discrimination experiments on marine fish. J. Exp. Biol. 61, 521–528 (1974).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, C. J., Sand, O.: Field studies of hearing in two species of flatfish, Pleuronectes platessa and Limanda limanda. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 47A, 371–385 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coombs, S., Popper, A. N.: Hearing differences among Hawaiian squirrelfish (Holocentridae) related to differences in the peripheral auditory system. J. Comp. Physiol. 132, 203–207 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornsweet, T. M.: The staircase method in psychophyics. Am. J. Psychol. 75, 485–491 (1962).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dijkgraaf, S.: Uber die Schallwahrnehmung bei Meeresfischen. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 34, 104–122 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dijkgraaf, S., Berheijen, F.: Neue Versuche über das Tonunterscheidungsvermogen der Elritze. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 32, 248–256 (1950).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehret, G.: Temporal auditory summation for pure tones and white noise in the house mouse Mus musculatus. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 59, 1421–1427 (1976).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enger, P. S.: Acoustic thresholds in goldfish and its relation to the sound source distance. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 18, 859–868 (1966).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R.: Behavioural audiogram for the goldfish. J. Aud. Res. 9, 112–121 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R.: Auditory frequency discrimination in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 73, 175–180 (1970a).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R.: Auditory frequency generalization in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). J. Expl. Anal. Behav. 14, 353–360 (1970b).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R.: Perception of amplitude modulated signals in the goldfish. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 52, 660–666 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R.: Masking of tones by noise for the goldfish (Carassius auratus). J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 87, 708–716 (1974a).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R.: Auditory frequency discrimination in vertebrates. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 56, 206–209 (1974b).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R.: Sound detection and sensory coding by the auditory systems of fishes. In: The Behaviour of Fish and Other Aquatic Animals. Mostofsky, D. (ed.). New York: Academic Press, 1978, pp. 197–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R., Ahroon, W. A., Orawski, A. A.: Auditory masking patterns in the goldfish (Carassius auratus): Psychophysical tuning curves. J. Exp. Biol. 74, 83–100 (1978).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fay, R. R., Popper, A. N.: Structure and function in teleost auditory systems. In: Comparative Studies of Hearing in Vertebrates. Popper, A. N., Fay, R. R. (eds.). New York: Springer-Verlag, 1980, pp. 1–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, J. F., Offutt, G. C.: Hearing thresholds from toadfish, Opsanus tau, measured in the laboratory and field. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 51, 1318–1321 (1972).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, H.: Auditory patterns, Rev. Mod. Phys. 12, 47–65 (1940).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt, H. C.: Mating call recognition in the green tree frog. J. Exp. Biol. 74, 59–73 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D. M., Swets, J. A.: Signal detection theory and psychophysics. New York: Wiley, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, D. R.: Hearing and acoustic orientation in marine animals. Papers on marine biology and oceanography. Deep Sea Res. 3 Suppl. 406–417 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, G. C., van Bergeijk, W. A.: Evidence that the lateral-line organ responds to near field displacements of sound sources in water. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 34, 1831–1841 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. D.: The sensitivity of fish to sounds. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 11, 291–340 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. D., Chapman, C. J.: Masked auditory thresholds in the cod Gadus morhua L. J. Comp. Physiol. 103A, 209–226 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. D., Johnstone, A. D. F.: The hearing of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. J. Fish. Biol. 13, 655–673 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. D., MacLennan, D. N.: An acoustic tank for hearing studies on fish. In Sound Reception in Fish. Schuijf, A., Hawkins, A. D. (eds.). Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1976, pp. 149–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. D., Rasmussen, K.: The calls of gadoid fish. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 58, 891–911 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. D., Sand, O.: Directional hearing in the median vertical plane by the cod. J. Comp. Physiol. 122, 1–8 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, D. W., Tavolga, W. N.: Acoustic intensity limens in the goldfish. Anim. Behav. 15, 324–335 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, D. W., Tavolga, W. N.: Acoustic frequency discrimination in the goldfish. Anim. Behav. 16, 67–71 (1968).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. C., Nelson, D. R.: Hearing thresholds of the horn shark, Heterodontus francisci. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 58, 905–909 (1975).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleerekoper, H., Chagnon, E. C.: Hearing in fish with special reference to Semotilus a. atromaculatus. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 11, 130–152 (1954).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kritzler, H., Wood, L.: Provisional audiogram for the shark, Carcharhinus leucas. Science 133, 1480–1482 (1961).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowenstein, O.: The sense organ: The acousticolateralis system. In: The Physiology of Fishes, Vol. 2. Brown, M. E. (ed.). New York: Academic Press, 1957, pp. 155–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulton, J. M.: Influencing the calling of sea robins Prionotus spp. with sound. Biol. Bull. 114, 357–374 (1956).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moulton, J. M.: Acoustic behavior of fishes. In: Acoustic Behavior of Animals. Busnel, R. G. (ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1963a, pp. 655–693.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulton, J. M.: Acoustic orientation of marine fishes and invertebrates. Ergebnisse der Biologie 26, 27–29 (1963b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulton, J. M., Dixon, R. H.: Directional hearing in fishes. In: Marine Bio-acoustics, Vol. 2. Tavolga, W. N. (ed.). Pergamon Press, 1967, pp. 187–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myrberg, A. A.: Using sound to influence the behaviour of free-ranging marine animals. In: Behaviour of Marine Animals, Vol. 2. Winn, H. E., Olla, B. L. (eds.). New York: Plenum Press, 1972, pp. 435–468.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Myrberg, A. A., Gordon, C. R., Klimley, P.: Attraction of free-ranging sharks by low frequency sound, with comments on its biological significance. In: Sound Reception in Fish. Schuijf, A., Hawkins, A. D. (eds.). Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1976, pp. 205–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myrberg, A. A., Spires, J.: Sound discrimination by the bicolor damselfish, Eupomacentrus partitus. J. Exp. Biol. 57, 727–735 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, D. R.: Cardiac responses to sounds in the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris. In: Sharks, Skates and Rays. Gilbert, P. W., Mathewson, R. F., Rail, D. P. (eds.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1967a, pp. 533–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, D. R.: Hearing thresholds, frequency discrimination and acoustic orientation in the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris. Bull. Mar. Sci. 17, 741–768 (1967b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Offutt, G. C.: Integration of the energy in repeated tone pulses by man and the goldfish. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 41, 13–19 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Offutt, G. C.: Auditory response in the goldfish. J. Aud. Res. 8, 391–400 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Offutt, G. C.: Response of the tautog, Tautoga onitis, to acoustic stimuli measured by classically conditioning the heart rate. Conditional Reflex. 6, 205–214 (1971).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Offutt, G. C.: Structures for the detection of acoustic stimuli in the Atlantic codfish Gadus morhua. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 56, 665–671 (1974).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otis, L. S., Cerf, J. A., Thomas, G. J.: Conditioned inhibition of respiration and heart rate in the goldfish. Science 126, 263–264 (1957).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parvulescu, A.: Problems in propagation and processing. In: Marine Bioacoustics. Tavolga, W. N. (ed.). Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1964, pp. 87–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parvulescu, A.: The acoustics of small tanks. In: Marine Bioacoustics, Vol. 2. Tavolga, W. N. (ed.). Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1967, pp. 7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piddington, R. W.: Auditory discrimination between compressions and rarefactions by goldfish. J. Exp. Biol. 56, 403–419 (1972).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plomp, R., Bouman, M. A.: Relation between hearing threshold and duration for tone pulses. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 31, 749–758 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poggendorf, D.: Die absoluten Hörschwellen des Zwergwelses (Amiurus nebulosus) und Beiträge zur Physik des Weberschen Apparatus der Ostariophysen. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 34, 222–257 (1952).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N.: Auditory capacities of the Mexican blind cavefish Astyanax jordani and its eyed ancestor Astyanax mexicanus. Anim. Behav. 18, 552–562 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N.: The effects of size on auditory capacities of goldfish. J. Aud. Res. 11, 239–247 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N.: Auditory threshold in the goldfish as a function of signal duration. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 52, 596–602 (1972a).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N.: Pure tone thresholds for the carp Cyprinus carpio. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 52, 1714–1717 (1972b).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N., Chan, A. T. H., Clarke, N. L.: An evaluation of methods of behavioural investigations of teleost audition. Behav. Res. Meth. Instr. 5, 470–472 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N., Clarke, N. L.: Non-simultaneous auditory masking in the goldfish, Carassius auratus. J. Exp. Biol. 83, 145–158 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N., Fay, R. R.: Sound detection and processing by teleost fishes: a critical review. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 53, 1515–1529 (1973).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, A. N., Salmon, M., Parvulescu, A.: Sound localization by the Hawaiian squirrelfishes. Anim. Behav. 21, 86–97 (1973).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhardt, F.: Ãœber Richtungswahrnehmung bei Fischen, besonders bei der Elritze (Phoxinus laevis L.) und beim Zwergwels (Amiurus nebulosus Raf.). Z. Vergl. Physiol. 22, 570–603 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Richard, J. D.: Fish attraction with pulsed low frequency sound. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 25, 1441–1452 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salmon, M.: Acoustical behaviour of the menpachi, Myripristis berndti, in Hawaii. Pac. Sci. 21, 364–381 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawa, M.: Auditory responses from single neurons of the medulla oblongata in the goldfish. Bull. Jpn. Soc. Sci. Fish. 42, 141–152 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schade, R.: Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Hörvermogen an Leucaspius delineatus. Biol. Zbl. 90, 337–356 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuijf, A.: Directional hearing of cod under approximate free-field conditions. J. Comp. Physiol. 98, 307–332 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuijf, A., Baretta, J. W., Wildschut, J. T.: A field investigation on the discrimination of sound direction in Labrus berggylta, Neth. J. Zool. 22, 81–104 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuijf, A., Buwalda, R.: On the mechanism of directional hearing in cod (Gadus morhua L.). J. Comp. Physiol. 98, 333–343 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuijf, A., Buwalda, R.: Underwater localization–A major problem in fish acoustics. (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuijf, A., Siemelink, M. E.: The ability of cod (Gadus morhua) to orient towards a sound source. Experientia 30, 773–774 (1974).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuijf, A., Visser, C., Willers, A. F. M., Buwalda, R.: Acoustic localization in an ostariophysan fish. Experientia 33, 1062–1063 (1977).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siegmund, R., Wolff, D. L.: Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Bestimmung des Horvermogens der Karausche (Carassius carassius L.). Fisch. Forsch. 11, 117–124 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavolga, W. N.: The significance of underwater sounds produced by males of the gobiid fish, Bathygobius soporator. Physiol. Zool. 31, 259–271 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavolga, W. N.: Masked auditory thresholds in teleost fishes. In: Marine Bioacoustics, Vol. 2. Tavolga, W. N. (ed.). Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1967, pp. 233–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavolga, W. N.: Signal/noise ratio and the critical band in fishes. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 55, 1323–1333 (1974).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tavolga, W. N., Wodinsky, J.: Auditory capacities in fishes. Pure tone thresholds in nine species of marine teleosts. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 126, 177–240 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • von Frisch, K.: Ein Zwergwels der kommt wenn Man Ihm pfeift. Biol. Zbl. 43, 439–446 (1923).

    Google Scholar 

  • von Frisch, K.: The sense of hearing in fish. Nature 141, 8–11 (1938).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Frisch, K., Dijkgraaf, S.: Können Fische die Schallrichtung wahrnehmen? Z. Vergl. Physiol. 22, 641–644 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, B. A.: Auditory sensitivity in the goldfish. J. Aud. Res. 6, 321–335 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, B. A.: Sonic sensitivity in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). In: Lateral Line Detectors. Cahn, P. (ed.). Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press, 1967, pp. 249–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, B. A.: Lateral-line sensitivity in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). J. Aud. Res. 9, 71–75 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, B. A., Strother, W. F., Hartig, G. M.: Auditory sensitivity in the bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 64, 552–556 (1969).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winn, H. E.: Vocal facilitation and biological significance of toadfish sounds. In: Marine Bio-Acousties, II Tavolga, W. N. (ed.). Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1967, pp. 283–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wodinsky, J., Behrend, E. R., Bitterman, M. E.: Avoidance conditioning in two species of fish. Anim. Behav. 10, 75–78 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, D. L.: Das Hörvermögen des Flussbarsches, Perca fluviatilis L. Biol. Zentr. 86, 449–460 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, D. L.: Das Hörvermögen des Kaulbarsches (Acerina cernua L.) und des Zanders (Lucioperca sandra Cuv. und Val.). Z. Vergl. Physiol. 60, 14–33 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this paper

Cite this paper

Hawkins, A.D. (1981). The Hearing Abilities of Fish. In: Tavolga, W.N., Popper, A.N., Fay, R.R. (eds) Hearing and Sound Communication in Fishes. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7186-5_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7186-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7188-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-7186-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics