Daniel E. Holt and Carol E. Johnston (2009): Signaling without the risk of
illegitimate receivers: do predators respond to the acoustic signals of
Cyprinella (Cyprinidae)? Environ. Biol. Fishes 84/4, 347-357.
Abstract: Acoustic and visual signals are commonly used by fishes for
communication. A significant drawback to both types of signals is that both
sounds and visual stimuli are easily detected by illegitimate receivers,
such as predators. Although predator attraction to visual stimuli has been
well-studied in other animals, predator response to acoustic stimuli has
received virtually no research attention among fishes and snakes. This study
assessed whether the calls of male tricolor shiner (Cyprinella trichroistia)
made during the breeding season would attract potential predators. We also
examined the effect of visual stimulus of tricolor shiners on predators.
Predators used were red eye bass (Micropterus coosae) and midland water
snakes (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis). Neither predator was attracted to
tricolor sounds when presented alone. Micropterus coosae responded
significantly more to a visual stimulus, and to a combination of visual and
acoustic stimuli, but with no greater intensity in the latter. Nerodia
sipedon pleuralis did not responded to visual stimulus presented alone, but
did respond to visual and acoustic stimuli presented simultaneously, and
with greater intensity to the latter, indicating that acoustic signals may
play a role in prey detection by N. sipedon pleuralis.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/wn83v30483784l67/
For reprints please contact Daniel E. Holt (Email:
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Sonja
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