Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative studies of the biophysics of directional hearing in anurans

  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1)

    Laser vibrometry was used to study the frequency response of the eardrum as a function of the angle of sound incidence in four species of anurans. Furthermore, the transmission of sound via the body wall and lungs to the internal side of the eardrum and the influence of this lung input on the vibrations of the eardrum were studied.

  2. 2)

    The frequency response of the eardrum was directional in a broad frequency range around its peak. How-ever, the strongest directionality occurred in a narrow frequency range, which did not coincide with the main frequencies of the conspecific advertisement calls.

  3. 3)

    The maximum directionality in this narrow frequency range was 10–25 dB. The maximum directionality at the advertisement call frequencies never exceeded 5–10 dB.

  4. 4)

    Attenuation of the lung input by covering the body wall with vaseline had a significant influence on the frequency response of the eardrum in all species, albeit only in a relatively narrow frequency range.

  5. 5)

    An increase of lung volume caused the narrow frequency range of maximum directionality to move towards lower frequencies. The shift was not sufficient for the maximum directionality to reach the advertisement call frequencies.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aertsen AMHJ, Vlaming MSMG, Eggermont JJ, Johannesma PIM (1986) Directional hearing in the grassfrog (Rana temporaria L.). II. Acoustics and modelling of the auditory periphery.Hearing Res 21:17–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Anson M, Pinder AC, Keating MJ, Chung SH (1985) Acoustic vibration of the amphibian eardrum studied by white noise analysis and holographic interferometry.J Acoust Soc Am 78:916–923

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggermont JJ (1988) Mechanisms of sound localization in anurans. In: Fritzsch B, Ryan MJ, Wilczynski W, Hetherington TE, Walkowiak W (eds) The evolution of the amphibian auditory system. John Wiley & Sons, New York Chichester Brisbane Toronto Singapore, pp 307–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehret G, Tautz J, Schmitz B, Narins PM (1990) Hearing through the lungs: Lung-eardrum transmission of sound in the frog Eleutherodactylus coqui. Naturwissenschaften 77:192–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng AS (1980) Directional characteristics of the acoustic receiver of the leopard frog (Rana pipiens): A study of eighth nerve auditory responses. J Acoust Soc Am 68:1107–1114

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher NH, Thwaites S (1979) Physical models for the analysis of acoustical systems in biology. Q Rev Biophysics 12:25–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt HC (1982) Sound pattern recognition in some North American treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae): Implications for mate choice. Am Zool 22:581–595

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerhardt HC, Rheinlaender J (1980) Accuracy of sound localization in a miniature dendrobatid frog. Naturwissenschaften 67:362–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen MB, Gerhardt HC (1991) Directional hearing in the gray tree frog, Hyla versicolor: Eardrum vibrations and phonotaxis. J Comp Physiol A169:177–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen MB, Schmitz B, Christensen-Dalsgaard J (1991) Biophysics of directional hearing in the frog Eleutherodactylus coqui. J Comp Physiol A168:223–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Klump GM, Gerhardt HC (1989) Sound localization in the barking treefrog. Naturwissenschaften 76:35–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen A, Jørgensen MB, Christensen-Dalsgaard J, Capranica RR (1986) Directional hearing of awake, unrestrained treefrogs. Naturwissenschaften 73:682–683

    Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen A, Larsen ON (1978) Biophysics of the ensiferan ear. I. Tympanal vibrations in bushcrickets (Tettigoniidae) studied with laser vibrometry. J Comp Physiol 123:193–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Narins PM, Ehret G, Tautz J (1988) Accessory pathway for sound transfer in a neotropical frog. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:1508–1512

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer AR, Pinder AC (1984) The directionality of the frog ear described by a mechanical model. J Theor Biol 110:205–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Passmore NI, Capranica RR, Telford SR, Bishop PJ (1984) Phonotaxis in the painted reed frog (Hyperolius marmoratus). J Comp Physiol A154:189–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinder AC, Palmer AR (1983) Mechanical properties of the frog ear: vibration measurements under free- and closed-field acoustic conditions. Proc R Soc Lond B219:371–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Rheinlaender J, Gerhardt HC, Yager DD, Capranica RR (1979) Accuracy of phonotaxis by the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea).J Comp Physiol 133:247–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilczynski W, Resler C, Capranica RR (1987) Tympanic and extratympanic sound transmission in the leopard frog. J Comp Physiol A161:659–669

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Institute, Odense University, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Morten Buhl Jørgensen

Authors
  1. Morten Buhl Jørgensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jørgensen, M.B. Comparative studies of the biophysics of directional hearing in anurans. J Comp Physiol A 169, 591–598 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193548

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193548

Key words

Search

Navigation