Same Calls, Different Meanings: Sound Communication in Fish

Greg Howard
22nd November, 2024

Same Calls, Different Meanings: Sound Communication in Fish

The structural similarity between sound waves produced by hand-held (HH) fish and a specific type of call (T3c) recorded in the wild for Neoniphon sammara, Sargocentron spiniferum, and Myripristis violacea confirms that sounds made under duress are also produced naturally.

Image adapted from: Banse et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • The study by Université de Liège, Belgium, found that holocentrid fish produce a variety of sounds in natural conditions linked to specific behaviors
  • Holocentrids use sounds like knocks, growls, grunts, staccatos, and thumps in six distinct behavioral contexts, including social signaling and competition
  • Sounds recorded from hand-held specimens in controlled environments match those produced by free-swimming fish in the wild, validating controlled studies
The study of sound production behaviors in fish has long intrigued scientists, yet the literature on these behaviors in the wild remains sparse. This new research conducted by the Université de Liège, Belgium, aims to fill this gap by examining whether holocentrids, a family of fish, can produce a variety of sounds in natural conditions and if these sounds are linked to specific behaviors[1]. The study also seeks to determine if sounds recorded from hand-held specimens in controlled environments correspond to those produced by free-swimming individuals in the wild. Previous research has shown that sound production is widespread among fishes and accompanies various social interactions[2]. For example, in the cichlid species Oreochromis niloticus, sounds are produced mainly during territorial defense rather than courtship or mating, reinforcing visual behaviors[2]. Similarly, the current study finds that holocentrids produce sounds in six distinct behavioral contexts, both agonistic (such as conspecific and heterospecific chases, competition) and social signaling types (including acceleration, broadcasting, and body quivering). The study reveals that holocentrids use a variety of sounds like knocks, growls, grunts, staccatos, and thumps, which are not only based on single calls but can also involve series of sounds arranged randomly. This diversity and combination of sounds suggest the absence of stereotypy, meaning there is no fixed pattern in the sounds produced. This finding aligns with observations from Oreochromis niloticus, where sounds support visual communication but are not used alone[2]. An interesting aspect of the study is its challenge to past nomenclatures that have been confusing due to the use of several terms not always based on fine descriptions. By providing a clearer classification of sound types and their associated behaviors, this research advances our understanding of acoustic communication in fish. Moreover, the study examines whether sounds recorded from hand-held specimens, a common methodology to standardize conditions, are representative of natural behaviors. The findings suggest that these recorded sounds do correspond to those produced in the wild, reinforcing the validity of using controlled conditions to study fish acoustics. This is particularly relevant given that previous studies have highlighted the challenges of recording fish sounds in small aquaria, where sound distortion can impede accurate description[3]. The recommendation to use larger plastic or plexiglass aquaria if open-water recordings are not feasible is supported by these findings[3]. Overall, this research by the Université de Liège provides significant insights into the role of sound in fish behavior. It demonstrates that holocentrids use a variety of sounds to augment visual communication during the day, similar to patterns observed in other species like Oreochromis niloticus[2]. By clarifying the types of sounds and their associations with specific behaviors, this study enhances our understanding of acoustic ecology in teleost species and underscores the importance of sound in fish communication.

Animal ScienceMarine BiologyEvolution

References

Main Study

1) Same calls, different meanings: Acoustic communication of Holocentridae.

Published 21st November, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312191

Related Studies

2) Behaviours associated with acoustic communication in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061467

3) Reliable characterization of sound features in fishes begins in open-water environmentsa).

https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0020149


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