Abstract
Investigating the potential ability of juvenile fishes to communicate acoustically requires analysing the development of vocalization and hearing . To date, the ontogeny of both processes has been examined in three non-related species, namely the croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata (family Osphronemidae , order Perciformes), the squeaker catfish Synodontis schoutedeni (family Mochokidae , order Siluriformes) and the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus (family Batrachoididae , order Batrachoidiformes). Juveniles of all three species vocalized during agonistic behaviour and showed similar changes in sound characteristics despite possessing different sonic mechanisms. With growth, dominant frequencies decreased, whereas sound pressure levels, pulse periods and sound duration (except in the toadfish) increased. Generally, hearing sensitivities improved during development, but differences were observed between species. Croaking gouramis of all stages responded to sounds up to 5 kHz. Auditory sensitivity increased in the high frequency range and the best hearing frequency shifted from 2.5 to 1.5 kHz. In the squeaker catfish, hearing abilities increased up to 2 kHz but showed a decrease at 5 and 6 kHz. The Lusitanian toadfish showed the smallest changes of all three species: the best hearing sensitivity was found at 50 Hz in all stages and hearing improved only at some frequencies. A comparison between audiograms and sound spectra within same-sized fish of the respective species revealed that the main energies of sounds were concentrated within the most sensitive frequencies. The comparison also showed that early-stage gouramis and toadfish probably cannot detect conspecific sounds due to low sound levels and high hearing thresholds . Only the catfish is able to communicate acoustically at all stages of development, most likely due to its Weberian apparatus .
Keywords
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Alderks PW, Sisneros JA (2011) Ontogeny of auditory saccular sensitivity in the plainfin midshipman fish, Porichthys notatus. J Comp Physiol A 197:387–398
Amorim MCP, Hawkins AD (2005) Ontogeny of acoustic and feeding behaviour in the grey gurnard, Eutrigla gurnardus. Ethology 111:255–269
Belanger AJ, Bobeica I, Higgs DM (2010) The effect of stimulus type and background noise on hearing abilities of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus. J Fish Biol 77:1488–1504
Bertucci F, Scaion D, Beauchaud M, Attia J, Mathevon N (2012) Ontogenesis of agonistic vocalizations in the cichlid fish Metriaclima zebra. C R Biol 335:529–534
Bradbury JW, Vehrencamp SL (1998) Principles of Animal Communication. Sinauer Associates Inc, Sunderland
Bradbury JW, Vehrencamp SL (2011) Principles of Animal Communication, 2nd edn. Sinauer Associates Inc, Sunderland
Egner SA, Mann DA (2005) Auditory sensitivity of sergeant major damselfish Abudefduf saxatilis from post-settlement juvenile to adult. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 285:213–222
Henglmüller SM, Ladich F (1999) Development of agonistic behaviour and vocalization in croaking gourami. J Fish Biol 54:380–395
Higgs DM, Souza MJ, Wilkins HR, Presson JC, Popper AN (2001) Age- and size related changes in the inner ear and hearing ability of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 3:174–184
Higgs DM, Rollo AK, Souza MJ, Popper AN (2003) Development of form and function in peripheral auditory structures of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). J Acoust Soc Am 113:1145–1154
Higgs DM, Plachta DTT, Rollo AK, Singheiser M, Hastings MC, Popper AN (2004) Development of ultrasound detection in American shad (Alosa sapidissima). J Exp Biol 207:155–163
Iwashita A, Sakamoto M, Kojima T, Watanabe Y, Soeda H (1999) Growth effects on the auditory threshold of red sea bream. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 65:833–838
Kenyon TN (1996) Ontogenetic changes in the auditory sensitivity of damselfishes (Pomacentridae). J Comp Physiol A 179:553–561
Kéver L, Boyle KS, Dragičević B, Dulčić J, Casadevall M et al (2012) Sexual dimorphism of sonic apparatus and extreme intersexual variation of sounds in Ophidion rochei (Ophidiidae): first evidence of a tight relationship between morphology and sound characteristics in Ophidiidae. Front Zool 9:34
Ladich F (1991) Fische schweigen nicht—Lautbildung, Hören und akustische Kommunikation bei Fischen. Naturwiss Rdsch 44:379–384
Ladich F (1997) Agonistic behavior and significance of sounds in vocalizing fish. Mar Freshw Behav Physiol 29:87–108
Ladich F (2014) Diversity in hearing in fishes: ecoacoustical, communicative, and developmental constraints. In: Köppl C, Manley GA, Popper AN, Fay RR (eds) Insights from comparative hearing. SHAR, vol 49. Springer, New York, pp 289–321
Ladich F, Fay RR (2013) Auditory evoked potential audiometry in fish. Rev Fish Biol Fish 23:317–364
Ladich F, Fine ML (2006) Sound-generating mechanisms in fishes: a unique diversity in vertebrates. In: Ladich F, Collin SP, Moller P, Kapoor BG (eds) Communication in Fishes. Science Publishers, Enfield, NH, pp 3-43
Ladich F, Myrberg AA (2006) Agonistic behaviour and acoustic communication. In: Ladich F, Collin SP, Moller P, Kapoor BG (eds) Communication in fishes. Science Publishers, Enfield, pp 122–148
Ladich F, Yan HY (1998) Correlation between auditory sensitivity and vocalization in anabantoid fishes. J Comp Physiol A 182:737–746
Ladich F, Collin SP, Moller P, Kapoor BG (eds) (2006) Communication in fishes. vol. 1. Science Publishers, Enfield
Lechner W, Wysocki LE, Ladich F (2010) Ontogenetic development of auditory sensitivity and sound production in the squeaker catfish Synodontis schoutedeni. BMC Biol 8:10
Lechner W, Heiss E, Schwaha T, Glösmann M, Ladich F (2011) Ontogenetic development of Weberian ossicles and hearing abilities in the African bullhead catfish. PLoS ONE 6(4):e18511
Lu J, DeSmidt AA (2013) Early development of hearing in zebrafish. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 14:509–521
McGregor PK (1992) Playback and studies of animal communication. Plenum Press, New York
McKibben JR, Bass AH (1998) Behavioral assessment of acoustic parameters relevant to signal recognition and preference in a vocal fish. J Acoust Soc Am 104:3520–3533
Myrberg AA (1981) Sound communication and interception in fishes. In: Tavolga WN, Popper AN, Fay RR (eds) Hearing and sound communication in fishes. Springer, New York, pp 395–426
Myrberg AA, Mohler M, Catala JD (1986) Sound production by males of a coral reef fish (Pomacentrus partitus): its significance to females. Anim Behav 34:913–923
Popper AN (1971) The effects of size on auditory capacities of the goldfish. J Audit Res 11:239–247
Schneider H (1941) Die Bedeutung der Atemhöhle der Labyrinthfische für ihr Hörvermögen. Z vergl Physiol 29:172–194
Schneider H (1964) Physiologische und morphologische Untersuchungen zur Bioakustik der Tigerfische (Pisces, Theraponidae). Z vergl Physiol 47:493–558
Sisneros JA, Bass AH (2005) Ontogenetic changes in the response properties of individual, primary auditory afferents in the vocal plainfin midshipman Porichthys notatus. J Exp Biol 208:3121–3131
Vasconcelos RO, Ladich F (2008) Development of vocalization, auditory sensitivity and acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus. J Exp Biol 211:502–509
Vierke J (1978) Labyrinthfische und verwandte Arten Wuppertal-Elberfeld. Engelbert Pfriem, Verlag
Webb JF, Walsh RM, Casper BM, Mann DA, Kelly N, Cicchino N (2012) Development of the ear, hearing capabilities and laterophysic connection in the spotfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon ocellatus). Environ Biol Fishes 95:275–290
Wright KJ, Higgs DM, Leis JM (2011) Ontogenetic and interspecific variation in hearing ability in marine fish larvae. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 424:1–13
Wysocki LE, Ladich F (2001) The ontogenetic development of auditory sensitivity, vocalization and acoustic communication in the labyrinth fish Trichopsis vittata. J Comp Physiol A 187:177–187
Yan HY (1998) Auditory role of the suprabranchial chamber in gourami fish. J Comp Physiol A 183:325–333
Zeddies DG, Fay RR (2005) Development of the acoustically evoked behavioural response in zebra fish to pure tones. J Exp Biol 208:1343–1372
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Wien
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ladich, F. (2015). Ontogenetic Development of Sound Communication in Fishes. In: Ladich, F. (eds) Sound Communication in Fishes. Animal Signals and Communication, vol 4. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1846-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1846-7_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-1845-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-1846-7
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)