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Acoustic diversity in Lake Malawi’s rock-dwelling cichlids

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Abstract

The cichlids of Lake Malawi are one of the world’s most species rich and phenotypically diverse groups of extant vertebrates. The extraordinary variability of this group’s color patterns, reproductive behaviors, and trophic morphologies are well documented. More recently, an additional axis of phenotypic diversity has been identified. Lake Malawi cichlids have been shown to use species-specific acoustic communication in both aggressive and reproductive encounters. However, documentation of acoustic signals used by this group is limited to a small number of taxa observed within the confines of the laboratory. This study examines the acoustic signals produced by six species spanning four genera of rock-dwelling cichlids recorded in their natural habitat, the shallow waters surrounding Thumbi West Island, Lake Malawi. Four acoustic parameters were quantified and compared between species: trill duration, number of pulses per trill, pulse duration, and pulse period. Using these characteristics, sympatric species within the genus Maylandia were easily distinguished. Furthermore, a comparison of this data to previously published acoustic data reveals possible geographic dialects within species.

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Acknowledgement

We thank Adam Smith and Moira van Staaden for further information on the populations they observed. Emily Rapstine provided assistance in digitizing the recordings. Arthur Popper generously provided the hydrophone and amplifier. Thomas Kocher and Karen Carleton provided PDD with the opportunity to record at Thumbi West Island. We are grateful to the University of Malawi and officials at Lake Malawi National Park for providing the facilities and permits necessary to conduct this work. We also want to thank Aimee Howe, other members of the Danley Lab, and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on this manuscript.

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  1. Justin Chetta

    Present address: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Patrick D. Danley & Martin Husemann

  2. Medical Humanities Program, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Justin Chetta

Authors
  1. Patrick D. Danley
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  2. Martin Husemann
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  3. Justin Chetta
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Correspondence to Patrick D. Danley.

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Danley, P.D., Husemann, M. & Chetta, J. Acoustic diversity in Lake Malawi’s rock-dwelling cichlids. Environ Biol Fish 93, 23–30 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9886-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9886-z

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