POWRE: Experimental Investigation of a Biological Ultrasonic Sensory System

9753091黑斯廷斯最近，渔业生物学家使用超声波来计算撞击发电厂进水口的鱼的数量，偶然发现几种鲱类鱼对频率为80至140 kHz的脉冲声信号作出反应。 这种检测的机制尚不清楚，然而，听觉泡，这种鱼类内耳中的特殊充气结构被认为起着重要作用。 了解这个独特的生物系统的机制将有助于两个目的。 首先，超声信号检测的力学知识可以为开发用于生物医学应用的新的和改进的换能器提供关键。 第二，由于相当高功率的超声波信号被用来寻找clupeids和转移他们从发电厂进水口和水坝，这项研究的结果将提供信息，什么声音会更容易检测到的clupeids和声压水平，将足以修改行为，而不伤害他们的内耳。 本研究的目的是检查的力学的琵琶鱼的内耳已知的超声波信号的行为反应，美国沙鱼（Alosa saparissima）。 该物种将进行实验评估，通过测量的频率响应的鱼鳔，大疱膜，椭圆囊耳石脉冲和连续波超声波使用非侵入性，非接触式振动测量系统，已成功地用于测量频率响应的外周听觉器官的金鱼（Carassiiis auratus）和奥斯卡（Astronotus ocellatus）。 本研究的结果将被用来开发一个数学模型的动态响应的超声波信号的蛤蜊听觉系统。 这种模型是复制这种独特生物系统特征用于生物医学工程应用的第一步。 ***

9753091 Hastings Recently, fisheries biologists, using ultrasound to count the number of fish impinging on power plant intakes, serendipitously discovered that several species of clupeid fish respond to pulsed acoustic signals at frequencies from 80 to 140 kHz. The mechanism for such detection is not known, however, the auditory bullae, special air-filled structures in the inner ear of this family of fish are believed to play a major role. Understanding the mechanics of this unique biological system would serve two purposes. First, knowledge of the mechanics for detection of ultrasonic signals could provide the key to the development of new and improved transducers for biomedical applications. Second, since rather high power ultrasonic signals are being used both to find clupeids and to divert them from power plant intakes and dams, results of this research will provide information on what sounds would be more readily detected by clupeids and sound pressure levels that would be adequate to modify behavior without harming their inner ear. The objective of this study is to examine the mechanics of the inner ear of a clupeid fish known to respond behaviorally to ultrasonic signals, the American shad (Alosa sapidissima). This species will be experimentally evaluated by measuring the frequency response of the swimbladder, bullae membrane, and utricular otolith to both pulsed and continuous wave ultrasound using a noninvasive, noncontact vibration measurement system that has been used successfully to measure frequency responses of the peripheral auditory organs in the goldfish (Carassiiis auratus) and oscar (Astronotus ocellatus). Results of this study will be used to develop a mathematical model for the dynamic response of the clupeid auditory system to ultrasonic signals. Such a model is the first step in duplicating characteristics of this unique biological system for biomedical engineering applications. ***