Temporal variation and characterization of grunt sounds produced by Atlantic cod Gadus morhua and pollack Pollachius pollachius during the spawning season. Issue 4 (19th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wilson, L. J.; Burrows, M. T.; Hastie, G. D.; Wilson, B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 84:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 1014
• Page End: 1030
• Publication Date: 2014-03-19
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12342
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jfb12342-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p id="jfb12342-para-0001">Fine‐scale temporal patterning in grunt production and variation in grunt attributes in Atlantic cod <italic>Gadus morhua</italic> and pollack <italic>Pollachius pollachius</italic> was examined. <italic>Pollachius pollachius</italic> produced only a single sound type, the grunt, similar to that previously described for <italic>G. morhua</italic>. Sound production and egg production were correlated in <italic>P. pollachius</italic> but not in <italic>G. morhua</italic>. Only <italic>G. morhua</italic> displayed a strongly cyclical pattern, producing more grunts at night. Finer‐scale temporal patterning in grunt production was observed in both species which produced significantly fewer grunts following a period of high grunt production. These quieter periods lasted up to 45 min for <italic>P. pollachius</italic> and up to 1 h in <italic>G. morhua</italic>. Grunts were not always produced in isolation but organized into bouts in both species. Longer bouts were more frequent during periods of increased sound activity and were linked with changes in grunt characteristics including increased grunt duration, pulse duration and repetition period of each pulse combined with decreased dominant frequency. This study provides the first evidence of acoustic signalling being used by spawning <italic>P. pollachius</italic> and presents the most detailed analysis of the complexity of gadoid sound production.</p> </abstract>