A NEW SOUND TRAP,AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE MIGRATORY AND ACOUSTIC BEHAVIOUR OF THE FIELD CRICKET TELEOGRYLLUS COMMODUS (WALKER)

ABSTRACT

A new sound trap for capturing male and female crickets attracted to the calling song of the male is described. Major advantages of the trap are its portability and effectiveness. It was designed to operate in conjunction with a previously described cricket-song generator. The trap is compared with other designs and the acoustic and migratory behaviour of crickets revealed by sound trapping are discussed.     

EVIDENCE FOR A HYDRODYNAMIC MECHANISM OF SOUND PRODUCTION BY COURTING MALES OF THE NOTCHTONGUE GOBY,BATHYGOBIUS CURACAO (METZELAAR)

ABSTRACT

Male gobies of the genus Bathygobius are soniferous during courtship. The mechanism by which the sounds are produced is, however, unknown. Early studies on sound production by males of B. soporator suggested that these sounds are hydrodynamic in nature, being produced by the forcible ejection of water through the gill opening. The mechanism of sound production by the closely related species B. curacao was investigated and three lines of evidence are presented which support the hydrodynamic hypothesis. First, similarities between the sounds produced by courting males and by ejecting water through a pipette demonstrated that hydrodynamic forces can readily produce such sounds. Second, the behavioural motor patterns occurring during sound production are consistent with the hypothesis that water is being ejected through the gill openings. Finally, morphological examination revealed an apparent lack of specialised features associated with sound production, effectively eliminating stridulatory and swim bladder mechanisms. These results represent the strongest evidence to date in support of any proposed mechanism of sound production in the gobiids.     

SOUND PRODUCTION IN THE LARVAE OF GEOTRUPES SPINIGER (MARSHAM) (COLEOPTERA: GEOTRUPIDAE)

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on sound production in the larvae of Geotrupes spiniger (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae). A single stridulatory apparatus was identified and then analysed from a structural point of view. Sound was studied using spectography and results included a quantitative analysis with characterizing physical parameters. Results highlight the need to study stridulation in Geotrupidae more in detail, to improve our understanding of its evolutionary and biological meaning.     

Sound production in two species of damselfishes (Pomacentridae): Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus and Dascyllus aruanus

Agonistic sounds of two pomacentrid species, Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus and Dascyllus aruanus , were recorded in captivity. Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus produced trains of 2–5 pops, each composed of 18–25 cycles, with an average duration of 56 ms; most energy ranged from c. 100 to 1000 Hz. Dascyllus aruanus produced pops and chirps. Pops were generally composed of a single pulse, with 2–14 peaks and an average duration of 6·7 ms. Pops contained energy >4 kHz, and peak frequency ranged from 680 to 1300 Hz. Chirps consisted of trains of 12–42 short pulses of three to six cycles, with durations varying from 0·6 to 1·27 ms; peak frequency varied from 3400 to 4100 Hz. Sound production in P. lacrymatus suggested that pomacentrids are derived from an ancestral taxon capable of sound production and that this capacity is a synapomorphy for the family. Although in the Pomacentridae, pops are typically composed of a single pulse, which is longer and higher pitched than chirps composed of a series of shorter pulses, D. aruanus chirps were higher pitched than its pops. Thus, acoustic variation in the genus Dascyllus is probably not more restricted than in the Pomacentridae.     

Agonistic behaviour and sound production in Gaidropsarus mediterraneus, (Gadidae)

Agonistic behaviour and sound production were described for captive Gaidropsarus mediterraneus , a shore-dwelling gadoid. Thump-like sounds were produced during agonistic interactions, which involved disputes over access to shelter sites.     

ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE PITCH PRODUCTION IN THE SONG OF THE WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (ZONO TRICHIA ALBICOLLIS)

ABSTRACT

The songs of white-throated sparrows consist of 5 notes of very pure tonal quality. In ascending song, the pitch increases substantially from Note 1 to Note 2; whereas, in descending song, pitch decreases substantially from Note 2 to Note 3. Variability in the absolute pitch of each note is considerable among birds, but much less within individuals. Analysis of the major pitch changes in these songs shows that the pitch interval (ratio of the higher to the lower frequency), a measure of relative pitch constancy, predicts the frequency of the higher note in the pitch change more precisely than does the difference between the frequencies of the two notes, a measure of absolute pitch constancy. We conclude that white-throated sparrows produce relative rather than absolute pitch constancy during the major frequency changes in their songs and suggest that pitch interval may be an important cue in species recognition.     

SOUND PRODUCTION IN MUTILLID WASPS (MUTILLIDAE,HYMENOPTERA)

ABSTRACT

The stridulatory organs of male and female Mutillid wasps are similar and occur between their 3rd and 4th abdominal tergites. The three investigated species, Smicromyrme rufipes, Dasylabris kozlovi and Mutilla marginata, possess files with different ‘ripple’ distances that are species specific (2.5 to 5.4 micrometres). The sonagram of the distress calls from female M. marginata shows the ripple frequency with low amplitude rising in the first 20 milliseconds from 1.2 to 1.5 kHz and then falling back in the following 20 milliseconds. The main sound energy occurs in the 2nd and 3rd harmonics.     

Sound production by the river bullhead, Cottus gobio L. (Cottidae, Teleostei)

Acoustic signals of Cottus gobio consist of knocking sounds produced as single pulses (48 ms) or as trains of 4–6 pulses (230 ms). Frequencies extend up to 3 kHz, but most sound energy is concentrated between 50 and 500 Hz in both sound types. Cottus gobio is solitary, maintains territories, and defends them by threat display, seldom by biting and fighting. Threatening consists of spreading gill covers and fins, darkening, and sound production. Calling is accompanied by a nodding movement of the head, during which the pectoral girdle and the skull are moved rapidly against each other. No difference in ability of sound production was observed between sexes, but males emitted significantly more sounds than females. In the laboratory an increase in vocalization activity was observed between night and day. An increase in the number of encounters and calls was noted when temperatures were raised from 8°C to 13°C. Sound production was registered throughout the year.     

In situ settlement behaviour of damselfish (Pomacentridae) larvae

Settlement‐stage damselfish (Pomacentridae) larvae of 13 species in seven genera were obtained from light traps at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Behaviour, observed in situ by SCUBA divers, of 245 larvae (6–13 mm, L_S; 5–60 individuals per species) released individually within a few m of reefs during the day differed markedly among species. From 0–28% (range among 13 species) of individuals of each species swam away from the adjacent reefs without swimming to the reefs. Of those that swam to a reef, 0–75% settled. For three species, sufficient data were available to test the hypothesis that these percentages did not differ amongst reefs: the hypothesis was rejected in one species. From 0–75% of larvae that reached the reef were eaten, 0–63% subsequently left the reef and 0–60% were still swimming over the reef at the end of the observation period. Swimming speeds of all but one species were greater when swimming away from the reef than toward it. Most species exceeded average current speeds when swimming away from reefs, but not when swimming toward and over them. Average swimming depths were in the upper half of the water column for most species, and were somewhat greater where the water depths were greater. The time the larvae swam over the reef before settling and the distance swum varied greatly among species from 0 to a mean of 5.5 min and 43 m. Settlement habitats chosen differed amongst species, and in some species, they were very specific. Average settlement depth varied among species from 6–13.5 m. In one species, settlement depth varied between reefs. About half of the 53 observed interactions between larvae and reef resident fishes were predation attempts: fishes of eight species (six families) attacked larvae. The other interactions were aggressive approaches by 11 species of resident fishes, all but one of which were pomacentrids. Many of these aggressive interactions discouraged settlement attempts. Larvae of some species experienced no predatory or aggressive interactions, whereas in other species interactions averaged >0.6 per released larva. Species that swam more‐or‐less directly to settlement sites near the reef edge experienced more interactions. Even within the same family, settlement behaviour differed among species in nearly all measures.     

蝉鸣特征及其在分类学上的意义：同翅目：蝉总科

本文总结了蝉鸣的几种机制,并初步提出了具鼓膜发音器的蝉鸣模式图;综述了国内外有关蝉鸣在分类中的应用历史和现状;分析讨论了蝉鸣声在各级分类阶元中的差异和应用,即发音机制和方式可用于科及亚科级的分类;鸣声的颖谱特征和一些鸣叫行为可为属级分类提供一些依据,鸣叫节律型具有明显的种性,而音色的差异在近缘种,疑难种及其种下分类方面具有重要的意义。     

Kinship,association, and social relationships in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Data on social interactions with matrilineal kin were collected from two groups of rhesus monkeys for 6 years. All behavioral states, including time within one meter of another, involved kin more often than would be expected by chance. Significant associations were also found between kinship and the frequencies of various forms of agonistic as well as affiliative acts. Frequency of social interaction, however, was not a simple function of time in proximity. Although animals spent more time with kin than nonkin they had more aggressive interactions with kin. Moreover, aggression was biased toward the more serious forms of expression in interactions with kin. Time spent in association was neither predictive of the rate of aggressive interaction nor reduced by high rates of aggressive interaction. Rather than association time influencing rates of interaction, association time may be the consequence of a history of aggressive and affiliative exchanges. Preferential association and high rates of aggressive interaction with kin may be possible due to the existence of compensating social mechanisms nullifying the negative influence of specific aggressive encounters. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Size-related habitat use and schooling behavior in two species of surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus and A. coeruleus) on a fringing reef in Barbados, West Indies

Surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) are prominent, herbivorous members of coral reef communities that occur as dispersed individuals and small, loose groups ('non-schooling fish') or as members of large, highly aggregated, mixed-species schools ('schooling fish'). We examined the relationships among fish size, habitat use and schooling in two species of surgeonfish on a fringing reef in Barbados, West Indies. Both ocean surgeonfish, Acanthurus bahianus, and blue tangs, A. coeruleus, appeared to show ontogenetic habitat shifts. The density of juvenile ocean surgeonfish was highest in the back reef (inshore), lower on the reef crest (intermediate) and lowest in the spurs and grooves (offshore) zone, but schooling adults were most abundant in the spurs and grooves zone. In a multiple regression considering the effects of depth, algal cover, rugosity and distance from shore, the density of non-schooling ocean surgeonfish was positively associated with percent algal cover on the substratum and negatively with distance from shore. Newly settled blue tangs occurred only in the reef crest and spurs and grooves zones, but larger juveniles were more common in the back reef, while adults were more evenly distributed across zones. The density of non-schooling blue tang was positively associated with rugosity, distance from shore, and percent algal cover. In both species, schooling occurred primarily in adults; small juveniles never participated in the large, dense schools. The proportion of adults that were schooling increased from the back reef to the reef crest to the spurs and grooves zone. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that schooling permits adult surgeonfish access to higher quality food in the territories of damselfish (Pomacentridae) that predominate on the reef crest and spurs.     

STRONG PROBABILITY OF LETHAL TOXICITY IN THE BLUE-GREEN ALGA MICROCYSTIS VIRIDIS LEMMERMANN1

Lethal toxicity (intraperitoneal, mouse) was examined in relation to Species composition of samples containing bloom-forming Microcystis populations from natural waters and correlated with toxicity of laboratory strains of four Microcystis formas and species. Toxicity was not always associated with the presence of M. aeruginosa f . aeruginosa Elenkin. A sample with almost all cells of M. aeruginosa f . aeruginosa showed no toxicity, However samples comprised of a high percentage of M. viridis Lemmermann often showed lethal toxicity. Toxicity tests were done on culture strains M. aeruginosa f aeruginosa, M. aeruginosa f flos-aquae Elenkin , M. viridis and M. wesenbergii Kamárek. All five cultured strains of M. viridis were found to be toxic, while only one out of nine strains of M. aeruginosa f . aeruginosa was toxic. Six strains of M. wesenbergii showed no toxicity, It is recommended that attention should be paid to the occurrences and possibility of toxic bloom of M. viridis from the standpoint of water management and public health .     

SHORT COMMUNICATION UNDERWATER SOUND PRODUCTION IN A NEOTROPICAL ANURAN,PHYSALAEMUS PUSTULOSUS (LEPTODACTYLIDAE)

ABSTRACT

Underwater vocalisations of Weddell seals Leptonychotes weddellii were recorded approximately 1400 km apart at Casey and Davis, Antarctica. Recordings were made during the 1992 and 1997 breeding seasons at Davis and during the 1997 season at Casey. Two observers independently analysed four attributes (start and end frequency, duration and number of elements) of narrow bandwidth calls from each location and time. There were few observer differences when the calls were grouped into four broad types (Trills, Descending Whistles, Ascending Whistles and Mews). Ascending Whistles and Mews were rare at Casey but common at Davis. Descending Whistles occurred significantly more often at Davis. Except for Trills, discriminant function analyses indicated less variation between the call attributes at Davis in 1992 and 1997 than between either of the Davis data sets and that from Casey. Vocalisation differences between Weddell seals from different areas can be detected by measuring common attributes of narrow bandwidth calls.     

HISTOCHEMISTRY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CRYPT CELLS IN THE DIGESTIVE GLAND OF APLYSIA PUNCTATA (CUVIER, 1803)

The crypt cells lining the Aplysia punctata digestive tubulescomprise of three types of cell; calcium, excretory, and thincells. The calcium cells play a role in osmoregulation, mineral storage,exocrine secretion, iron detoxification, and excretion processes.They possess well- developed microvilli and a basal labyrinth,suggesting a role in absorption. The Golgi apparatus is involvedin the production of two main components of calcium spherules;the fibrillar material and mineralized granules. Golgi complex,rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), ribosomes, and altered mitochondriaare involved in the formation of calcium spherules. Secretoryactivity is indicated by the formation of dense granules containingiron and calcium salts. Lipofuscin pigment has been found inlarge concretions which may arise from cytoplasmic areas surrounded byendoplasmic reticulum, RER and Golgi tubules. There are threestages of excretory cells, called early, mature, and post-excretorycells. This study traces the development of granulofibrillarvacuoles up to the formation of the lipofuscin concretions andshows that excretory cells are in fact degenerating calciumcells. The fine structure of thin cells suggests that they areyoung calcium cells. (Received 29 December 1997; accepted 15 November 1998)     

黄土高原油松林地产流产沙及其过程研究

通过对径流小区的多年观测和人工模拟降雨试验,利用自制的径流自动记录装置,研究了油松林地不同处理的产流产沙及其动态过程。研究结果表明,油松林地、林地去枯枝落叶层和采伐林地上层林木等３种处理与农地比较,分别减少径流量８８．０％、２７．０％和８７．８％,减少产沙量９９．９％、９８．０％和９９．８％。产沙量与坡度和雨强关系密切,随坡度和雨强增加而迅速增加,以雨强的效应更甚。油松林地开始产流的降雨量一般在１     

EFFECT OF THE SOUND GENERATED BY AN ACOUSTIC HARASSMENT DEVICE ON THE RELATIVE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF HARBOR PORPOISES (PHOCOENA PHOCOENA) IN RETREAT PASSAGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA

We describe an experiment conducted to assess the impact of the sound generated by an acoustic harassment device (AHD) on the relative abundance and distribution of harbor porpoises ( Phocoena phocoena ) in Retreat Passage, British Columbia. During control periods when the AHD was inactive, the mean number of porpoises observed in the study area was 0.39 for broad area scans conducted with the naked eye and 0.48 for narrow sector scans conducted with binoculars. Abundance declined precipitously when the AHD was activated, to 0.007 porpoises per broad area scan and 0.018 per narrow sector scan. The mean number of porpoise resightings while tracking their movements also declined from 12.2 to 13.6 per sighting during control periods to 1.1–1.9 per sighting when the AHD was activated, which suggested that the few porpoises that ventured into the study area spent less time within it when the AHD was activated. The effect of the AHD diminished with distance. No porpoises were observed within 200 m of the AHD when it was activated. The number of sightings and resightings observed when it was activated was less than 0.2% of the number expected had there been no AHD effect at a range of 200–399 m, 1.4% the number expected at a range of 400–599 m, varied between 2.5% and 3.3% of the number expected at a range of 600–2,499 m, and was 8.1% the number expected at a range of 2,500–3,500 m, which suggested that the impact of the AHD extended beyond our maximum sighting range of 3.5 km.