Abstract
Sound production in fishes is common in marine and freshwater species, however there are still many vocal species for which sound production has not been documented. This paper is the first account of sound production in the Guardian Darter (Etheostoma oophylax). Laboratory recordings revealed that males produced several vocalizations, including single pulse knocks, multi-pulsed purrs, and tonal drums. All vocalizations were documented during agonistic and courtship encounters, including spawning. We also investigated possible correlations between call characteristics and male size. Male standard length was found to be correlated to inter-pulse interval of purrs, as well as the slope of the drum vocalizations. Determining a link between male size and acoustic characteristics could be the first step in documenting mate or male-male assessment by acoustic communication in darters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akamatsu T, Okumura T, Novarini N, Yan HY (2002) Empirical refinements applicable to recording of fish sounds in small tanks. J Acoust Soc Am 112:3073–3308
Amorim M (2006) Diversity of sound production in fishes. In: Ladich F, Collin S, Moller P, Kapoor BG (eds) Communication in fishes. Science Publishers, Enfield, pp 71–103
Amorim MCP, Fonseca PJ, Almada VC (2003) Sound production during courtship and spawning of Oreochromis mossambicus: male-female and male-male interactions. J Fish Biol 62:658–672
Bandoli JH (2002) Brood defense and filial cannibalism in the spottail darter (Etheostoma squamiceps): the effects of parental status and prior experience. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 51:222–226
De Jong K, Bouton N, Slabbekoorn H (2007) Azorean rock-pool blennies produce size-dependent calls in a courtship context. Anim Behav 74:1285–1292
Forrest T, Miller G, Zagar J (1993) Sound propagation in shallow water: implications for acoustic communication by aquatic animals. Bioacoust 4:259–270
Johnston CE, Johnson DL (2000) Sound production during the spawning season in cavity-nesting darters of the subgenus Catonotus (Percidae: Etheostoma). Copeia 2000:475–481
Knapp RA, Sargent C (1989) Egg mimicry as a mating strategy in the fantail darter, Etheostoma flabellare: females prefer males with eggs. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 25:321–326
Knouft JH, Page LM (2004) Nest defense against predators by the male fringed darter (Etheostoma crossopterum). Copeia 2004:915–918
Knouft JH, Page LM, Plewa MJ (2003) Antimicrobial egg cleaning by the fringed darter (Perciformes: Percidae: Etheostoma crossopterum): implications of a novel component of parental care in fishes. Proc R Soc B 270:2405–2411
Ladich F (2004) Sound production and acoustic communication. In: von der Emde G, Mogdans J, Kapoor BG (eds) The senses of fish. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp 210–229
Lobel PS, Mann DM (1995) Spawning sounds of the Damselfish Dascyllus albisella (Pomacentridae), and relationship to male size. Bioacoust 6:187–198
Lugli M, Fine ML (2003) Acoustic communication in two freshwater gobies: ambient noise and short-term propagation in shallow streams. J Acoust Soc Am 114:512–521
Magnhagen C, Kvarnemo L (1989) Big is better- the importance of size for reproductive success in male pomatoschistus-minutus (Pallas) (Pisces, Gobiidae). J Fish Biol 35:755–763
Mann DA (2006) Propagation of fish sounds. In: Ladich F, Collins S, Moller P, Kapoor BG (eds) Communication in fishes. Science Publishers, Enfield
Myrberg AA Jr, Lugli M (2006) Reproductive behavior and acoustic interactions. In: Ladich F, Collins S, Moller P, Kapoor BG (eds) Communication in fishes. Science Publishers, Enfield, pp 149–176
Page LM (1985) Evolution of reproductive behaviors in percid fishes. Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 33:275–295
Page LM, Bart HL (1989) Egg mimics in darters (Pisces, Percidae). Copeia 1989:514–517
Page LM, Knouft JH (2000) Variation in egg-mimic size in the guardian darter, Etheostoma oophylax (Percidae). Copeia 2000:782–785
Parmentier E, Lagardere JP, Vandewalle P, Fine ML (2005) Geographical variation in sound production in the anemone fish Amphiprion akallopisos. Proc R Soc B 272:1697–1703
Phillips CT, Johnston CE (2008) Geographical divergence of acoustic signals in Cyprinella galactera, the whitetail shiner (Cyprinidae). Anim Behav 75:617–626
Speares PA, Holt DE, Johnston CE (2011) The relationship between ambient noise and dominant frequency of vocalizations in two species of darters (Percidae: Etheostoma). Environ Biol Fish 90:103–110
Stammler KL, Corkum LD (2005) Assessment of fish size on shelter choice and intraspecific interactions by round gobies Neogobius melanostomus. Environ Biol Fish 73:117–123
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Dan Holt, Nicole Kierl, and other members of the Johnston lab for their assistance with fish collection and animal care. This research was approved by the Auburn University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and covered under protocol number 2010–1735.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Speares, P., Johnston, C. Sound production in Etheostoma oophylax (Percidae) and call characteristics correlated to body size. Environ Biol Fish 92, 461–468 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9863-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9863-6