scholarly journals Grunt variation in the oyster toadfishOpsanus tau: effect of size and sex

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Fine ◽  
Tyler D. Waybright
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Fish Size ◽  
Opsanus Tau ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Vocal Activity ◽  
Oyster Toadfish

As in insects, frogs and birds, vocal activity in fishes tends to be more developed in males than in females, and sonic swimbladder muscles may be sexually dimorphic, i.e., either larger in males or present only in males. Male oyster toadfishOpsanus tauL produce a long duration, tonal boatwhistle advertisement call, and both sexes grunt, a short duration more pulsatile agonistic call. Sonic muscles are present in both sexes but larger in males. We tested the hypothesis that males would call more than females by inducing grunts in toadfish of various sizes held in a net and determined incidence of calling and developmental changes in grunt parameters. A small number of fish were recorded twice to examine call repeatability. Both sexes were equally likely to grunt, and grunt parameters (sound pressure level (SPL), individual range in SPL, number of grunts, and fundamental frequency) were similar in both sexes. SPL increased with fish size before leveling off in fish >200 g, and fundamental frequency and other parameters did not change with fish size. Number of grunts in a train, grunt duration and inter-grunt interval were highly variable in fish recorded twice suggesting that grunt parameters reflect internal motivation rather than different messages. Grunt production may explain the presence of well-developed sonic muscles in females and suggests that females have an active but unexplored vocal life.

Functional morphology of toadfish sonic muscle fibers: relationship to possible fiber division

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2262-2274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Fine ◽  
Barbara Bernard ◽  
Thomas M. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Small Energy ◽  
Opsanus Tau ◽  
Sonic Muscle ◽  
Oyster Toadfish ◽  
Fiber Fragmentation ◽  
Rapid Contraction

Sexually dimorphic sonic muscles, which vibrate the swimbladder for sound production in the oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau), are among the fastest vertebrate muscles. Previous work has shown that sonic muscle fibers are smaller in males, have an unusual morphology, and increase in number and size for life. We now report evidence consistent with the hypothesis that mature, presumably postmitotic, sonic fibers divide, and suggest that division, which returns fibers to small energy-efficient units, is necessary because mitochondria are excluded from the fiber's contractile cylinder. Large fibers, potential candidates for division, develop fragments of contractile cylinder separated by channels of an expanded sarcoplasmic reticulum; these channels can assume the appearance of the sarcoplasm (glycogen granules and mitochondria) beneath the sarcolemma. Measurements indicate that contractile cylinder diameter does not increase with fish size and that diameters are approximately 21% larger in females (p < 0.0001). Fiber fragmentation, possible division, and the presence of smaller fibers with smaller diameter contractile cylinders in males are seen as adaptations for repeated rapid contraction and fatigue resistance during production of the male's courtship boatwhistle call.

Metabolic costs of sound production in the oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 830-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Clara P. Amorim ◽  
Marti L McCracken ◽  
Michael L Fine
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Respiration Rate ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Body Cavity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Muscle Performance ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Opsanus Tau ◽  
Oyster Toadfish ◽  
Stimulation Of

The energetics of mate calling has been studied in insects, frogs, birds, and mammals, but not in fishes. The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, produces a boatwhistle advertisement call using one of the fastest muscles known in vertebrates. Because toadfish will not boatwhistle in a respirometer, we measured oxygen consumption after eliciting sound production by electrically stimulating the sonic swim bladder muscle nerve. Induced sounds were similar to a male calling at a rapid rate. Stimulation of the sonic nerve increased the respiration rate by 40–60% in males, but they became agitated. Repeating the experiment decreased agitation, and in most fish respiration rates approximated control levels by the second or third replication. Elicited sounds and therefore sonic-muscle performance were similar in all repetitions, hence it appears that the increased oxygen consumption in the first trial was caused by the fish's agitation. Controls indicated that electrode implantation and electrical stimulation of the body cavity did not affect the respiration rate. We suggest that allocation of a small amount of the total energy budget to sound production is reasonable in toadfish, and probably most other fish species, because of the small amount of time that the sonic muscles actually contract and their small size (about 1% of body mass).

Contributions of Voice and Nonverbal Communication to Perceived Masculinity–Femininity for Cisgender and Transgender Communicators

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 931-947
Author(s):  
Teresa L. D. Hardy ◽  
Carol A. Boliek ◽  
Daniel Aalto ◽  
Justin Lewicke ◽  
Kristopher Wells ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Presentation Mode ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Presentation Modes ◽  
Audiovisual Stimuli ◽  
Vocal Tract Resonance ◽  
Point Light

Purpose The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to identify a set of communication-based predictors (including both acoustic and gestural variables) of masculinity–femininity ratings and (b) to explore differences in ratings between audio and audiovisual presentation modes for transgender and cisgender communicators. Method The voices and gestures of a group of cisgender men and women ( n = 10 of each) and transgender women ( n = 20) communicators were recorded while they recounted the story of a cartoon using acoustic and motion capture recording systems. A total of 17 acoustic and gestural variables were measured from these recordings. A group of observers ( n = 20) rated each communicator's masculinity–femininity based on 30- to 45-s samples of the cartoon description presented in three modes: audio, visual, and audio visual. Visual and audiovisual stimuli contained point light displays standardized for size. Ratings were made using a direct magnitude estimation scale without modulus. Communication-based predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings were identified using multiple regression, and analysis of variance was used to determine the effect of presentation mode on perceptual ratings. Results Fundamental frequency, average vowel formant, and sound pressure level were identified as significant predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings for these communicators. Communicators were rated significantly more feminine in the audio than the audiovisual mode and unreliably in the visual-only mode. Conclusions Both study purposes were met. Results support continued emphasis on fundamental frequency and vocal tract resonance in voice and communication modification training with transgender individuals and provide evidence for the potential benefit of modifying sound pressure level, especially when a masculine presentation is desired.

A large new species of Rhinella (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerrado of Brazil

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1627 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
NATAN M. MACIEL ◽  
REUBER A. BRANDÃO ◽  
LEANDRO A. CAMPOS ◽  
ANTONIO SEBBEN
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Features ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Morphometric Feature ◽  
Distrito Federal

A new toad, Rhinella cerradensis, is described, including its tadpole and the advertisement call. The new species occupies Cerrado habitats in the Brazilian states of Piauí, Bahia, Goiás, Minas Gerais, and Distrito Federal. The species is characterized by its large size; absence of tibial glands; well developed cranial crests; short hands; sexually dimorphic coloration; and by the absence of a spiracle tube of the tadpole. The new species is included in the Rhinella marina group by the presence of a jagged suture formed by the articulation between the pterygoid medial ramus and the parasphenoid alae, as well as other shared morphological features. Morphological characters and statistical analyses inferred by morphometric feature suggest the existence of two subgroups of species within R. marina group. However, taxonomic rearrangements are not made here and await phylogenetic analysis.

scholarly journals Catecholaminergic Fiber Innervation of the Vocal Motor System Is Intrasexually Dimorphic in a Teleost with Alternative Reproductive Tactics

2015 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary N. Ghahramani ◽  
Miky Timothy ◽  
Gurpreet Kaur ◽  
Michelle Gorbonosov ◽  
Alena Chernenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Motor System ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Motor Nucleus ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Fiber Density ◽  
Reproductive Tactics ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Behavioral Divergence

Catecholamines, which include the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline, are known modulators of sensorimotor function, reproduction, and sexually motivated behaviors across vertebrates, including vocal-acoustic communication. Recently, we demonstrated robust catecholaminergic (CA) innervation throughout the vocal motor system in the plainfin midshipman fish Porichthys notatus, a seasonal breeding marine teleost that produces vocal signals for social communication. There are 2 distinct male reproductive morphs in this species: type I males establish nests and court females with a long-duration advertisement call, while type II males sneak spawn to steal fertilizations from type I males. Like females, type II males can only produce brief, agonistic, grunt type vocalizations. Here, we tested the hypothesis that intrasexual differences in the number of CA neurons and their fiber innervation patterns throughout the vocal motor pathway may provide neural substrates underlying divergence in reproductive behavior between morphs. We employed immunofluorescence (-ir) histochemistry to measure tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; a rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis) neuron numbers in several forebrain and hindbrain nuclei as well as TH-ir fiber innervation throughout the vocal pathway in type I and type II males collected from nests during the summer reproductive season. After controlling for differences in body size, only one group of CA neurons displayed an unequivocal difference between male morphs: the extraventricular vagal-associated TH-ir neurons, located just lateral to the dimorphic vocal motor nucleus (VMN), were significantly greater in number in type II males. In addition, type II males exhibited greater TH-ir fiber density within the VMN and greater numbers of TH-ir varicosities with putative contacts on vocal motor neurons. This strong inverse relationship between the predominant vocal morphotype and the CA innervation of vocal motor neurons suggests that catecholamines may function to inhibit vocal output in midshipman. These findings support catecholamines as direct modulators of vocal behavior, and differential CA input appears reflective of social and reproductive behavioral divergence between male midshipman morphs.

Acoustical Effects of Endotracheal Intubation

1990 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey A. Yonick ◽  
Alan R. Reich ◽  
Fred D. Minifie ◽  
B. Raymond Fink
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Endotracheal Intubation ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Sound Pressure Level ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Surgery ◽  
Pressure Level ◽  
Laryngeal Trauma

Certain acoustical consequences of endotracheal intubation were examined in 13 male cardiovascular-surgery patients. Each subject recorded three tokens of a sustained vowel 1 day before intubation, 1 day after, upon discharge, and during a follow-up visit. Eight acoustical measures were obtained from the audio-recorded vowels: (a) mean fundamental frequency (Fo), (b) Fostandard deviation, (c) Foperturbation quotient, (d) mean sound pressure level (SPL), (e) SPL standard deviation, (f) SPL perturbation quotient, (g) spectral flatness of the residue signal, and (h) coefficient of excess. Mean Fo, Fostandard deviation, mean SPL, SPL standard deviation, and coefficient of excess did not differ significantly across recording sessions, although certain predictable trends were apparent. Foperturbation quotient, SPL perturbation quotient, and spectral flatness of the residue signal varied significantly across sessions, implying that these acoustical measures may be useful in the identification and monitoring of even minor intubation-related laryngeal trauma.

scholarly journals A sexually-dimorphic murine model of IUGR induced by embryo transfer

Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harleen Kaur ◽  
Alison S. Care ◽  
Rebecca L Wilson ◽  
Sandra G Piltz ◽  
Paul Q Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Placental Weight ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Implantation Sites ◽  
Cd1 Mice ◽  
The Relationship

Animal models are needed to develop interventions to prevent or treat intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Fetal growth rates and effects of in utero exposures differ between sexes, but little is known about sex-specific effects of increasing litter size. We established a murine IUGR model using pregnancies generated by multiple embryo transfers, and evaluated sex-specific responses to increasing litter size. CBAF1 embryos were collected at gestation day 0.5 (GD0.5) and 6, 8, 10 or 12 embryos were transferred into each uterine horn of pseudo-pregnant female CD1 mice (n=32). Fetal and placental outcomes were measured at GD18.5. In the main experiment fetuses were genotyped (Sry) for analysis of sex-specific outcomes. The number of implantation sites (P=0.033) and litter size (number of fetuses, P=0.008) correlated positively with number of embryos transferred, while placental weight correlated negatively with litter size (both P<0.01). The relationship between viable litter size and fetal weight differed between sexes (interaction P=0.002), such that fetal weights of males (P=0.002), but not females (P=0.233), correlated negatively with litter size. Placental weight decreased with increasing litter size (P<0.001) and was lower in females than males (P=0.020). Our results suggest that male fetuses grow as fast as permitted by nutrient supply, whereas the female maintains placental reserve capacity. This strategy reflecting sex-specific gene expression is likely to place the male fetus at greater risk of death in the event of a “second hit”.

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