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Development of vocalization, auditory sensitivity and acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus

dc.contributor.authorVasconcelos, Raquel Ornelas
dc.contributor.authorLadich, Friedrich
dc.date.accessioned2013-10-25T18:54:19Z
dc.date.available2013-10-25T18:54:19Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractThe ontogenetic development of acoustic communication has so far only been investigated in one fish species. In order to determine whether detectability of conspecific sounds changes during growth in a species with limited hearing abilities (generalist), we investigated the development of auditory sensitivity and agonistic vocalizations in the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus. Agonistic grunts were recorded, their sound pressure levels determined, and auditory sensitivities measured in five different size groups ranging from 3 to 32·cm standard length. Hearing thresholds were obtained using the auditory evoked potentials (AEP) recording technique. Dominant frequency, sound duration and number of pulses decreased, whereas pulse period and sound level increased with increasing fish size. The best hearing was below 300·Hz in all groups. Lower hearing sensitivity was found in the smallest juveniles at 100·Hz as well as at higher frequencies (800 and 1000·Hz). Comparisons between audiograms and sound spectra within the same-sized fish revealed that smaller juveniles would be barely able to detect agonistic grunts, while these vocalizations were clearly perceived by larger fish. In the latter, the main energy of sounds was found at the most sensitive frequencies. This study demonstrates that acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish might be absent in early developmental stages and seems to start when juveniles are able to generate grunts of higher sound level and lower dominant frequency.por
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Experimental Biology, 211, 502-509por
dc.identifier.issn0022-0949
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/2448
dc.language.isoengpor
dc.peerreviewedyespor
dc.publisherCompany of Biologists Ltdpor
dc.subjectOntogenypor
dc.subjectSound spectrapor
dc.subjectHearingpor
dc.subjectAuditory evoked potentialpor
dc.subjectAcoustic communicationpor
dc.subjectHalobatrachus didactyluspor
dc.titleDevelopment of vocalization, auditory sensitivity and acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactyluspor
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.conferencePlaceCambridgepor
oaire.citation.endPage509por
oaire.citation.startPage502por
oaire.citation.titleJournal of Experimental Biologypor
oaire.citation.volume211por
rcaap.rightsrestrictedAccesspor
rcaap.typearticlepor

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