Dissertation Research: Longear Sunfish and their Acoustic Environment: Physical and Biological Effects on Signal Design

瑞安9801041 对65科针叶鱼类声信号的功能和自然变异的研究较少。这种缺乏使科学家无法理解脊椎动物之间的交流模式和过程。的结构，上下文，和变化的声音信号的longear太阳鱼（Lepomis megalotis，Centrarchidae），相对的大嘴鲈鱼，将进行研究，为今后的工作和比较研究奠定基础。这些鱼的呼叫将被记录在自然种群中，使用小波变换进行分析，并将行为背景录像以表征信号。 假设的功能将使用回放实验进行测试。将确定不同水平的声学信号变化，以验证群体差异不仅仅是由于个体内或个体间的变化。两个可能的来源的变化，物理和物种组成的差异，将进行检查。将使用tem信号的回放来确定水下声音传播和退化的地点之间的物理差异。或者，大多数的Lepomis物种竞争声学空间，并产生可行的杂交后代，这可能会导致在多个物种的网站在信号的差异。将记录、分析异质特异性的呼叫，并与longear太阳鱼呼叫进行比较，以确定呼叫参数重叠。 长齿太阳鱼声学信号的微地理变异可能表明了局部种群的分化。了解这种变化可能是重要的理解栖息地破碎化和退化的影响。对太阳鱼自然种群中的声信号的研究将有助于对声信号系统和作用于它们的选择的一般知识，以及关于硬骨鱼声学行为和水下声传播的具体信息。

Ryan 9801041 Few studies have examined the function of and natural variation in acoustic signals in the 65 families of coniferous fishes. This lack prevents scientists from understanding patterns and processes in communication across vertebrates. The structure, context, and variation of acoustic signals of longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis, Centrarchidae), a relative of the largemouth bass, will be studied to establish the basis for future work and comparative studies. Calls of these fish will be recorded in natural populations, analyzed using wavelet transforms, and behavioral context videotaped to characterize the signal. Hypothesized functions will be tested using playback experiments. Acoustic signal variation at various levels will be determined to verify that population differences are not due exclusively to variation within an individual or between individuals. Two possible sources of variation, physical and species composition differences, will be examined. The physical differences between sites in underwater sound propagation and degradation will be determined using playbacks of tem signals. Alternately, most Lepomis species compete for acoustic space and produce viable hybrid offspring, which may result in differences in signals at sites with multiple species. The calls of hetero specifics will be recorded, analyzed and compared to longear sunfish calls to determine call parameter overlap. The microgeographic variation in acoustic signals in longear sunfish may indicate localized population divergence. Understanding this variation may be important in understanding the implications of habitat fragmentation and degradation. Research on acoustic signals in natural populations of sunfish will contribute to general knowledge of acoustic signaling systems and the selection acting on them, as well as specific information on teleost acoustic behavior and underwater sound propagation.