Patricia Speares, Daniel Holt & Carol Johnston (2011): The relationship
between ambient noise and dominant frequency of vocalizations in two species
of darters (Percidae: Etheostoma). Environm. Biol. Fishes 90(1), 103-110.
Abstract: Acoustic communication is used by many freshwater fishes for both
courtship and aggressive interactions. Fish that live in shallow streams
with fast moving water are often exposed to high levels of ambient noise,
which could have an effect on the characteristics of their vocalizations.
This paper investigates the aggressive vocalizations produced by two closely
related species of darters. We measured ambient noise in their respective
microhabitats, and found that both species produce aggressive drum
vocalizations with a dominant frequency that corresponds to areas of low
ambient noise. Previous studies have found quiet windows in shallow streams
that have correlated to the dominant frequency of sounds made by fish that
inhabit the streams. This is the first study, however, to show how the
dominant frequencies of vocalizations of two closely related species occur
in areas of low ambient noise within their respective microhabitats. This
study supports other studies which show that ambient noise along with other
physical features of the environment can affect vocal characteristics and
behaviors in freshwater fish.
URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/j43r2852158393vj/
For reprints please contact P. Speares (email:
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Sonja Amoser
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