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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Many fish species emit sounds in agonistic contexts. During direct confrontations sounds are
typically produced during the display phase in conjunction with visual exhibitions. Here we
studied sound production during territorial defence in captive painted gobies, Pomatoschistus
pictus, and related acoustic parameters with male traits and the date of recording (Julian
day, i.e., with the approach of the peak of the breeding season). Territorial males emitted
drumming sounds during displays that involved darkening the chin and fins, spreading fins
and quivering the body. Drums were trains of low frequency pulses (≈23 pulses) repeated
every 27 ms and usually lasting under a second. Drums were produced in short sequences of
sounds (bursts). All acoustic parameters differed significantly among males. Drum and burst
duration, and drum number of pulses increased significantly with male size. Calling duration
(including drum, burst duration and drum number of pulses) also increased significantly with
Julian date and presented a high intra-male variability, suggesting that these parameters may
also depend on the individual’s motivation. We provide the first report for agonistic sound
production in sand gobies and give evidence that sound parameters contain information that
can be used during mutual assessment in contests over territories.
Description
Keywords
Acoustic communication Sound production, Territorial defence Gobiidae Teleost fish
Citation
Behaviour, 145, 1065-1083