6. SOUND PRODUCTION AND DETECTION
185
regular stages or events in the development of an organism. This would
include some primitive types of sex discriminatory and food discriminatory behavior.
Signal: Interactions in which receiver and/ or emitter utilizes some
specialized structures. Specialized forms of behavior would also be involved.
Symbolic and Language: Interactions based on high levels of nervous
integration, as in primates, including man.
The term “communication,” therefore, could include any one or more
levels in the above heirarchy of interactions. Restriction of the scope
of the term now becomes practical and meaningful. Signal, symbolic,
and language levels would comprise communication, while the vegetative,
tonic, and phasic levels would include primitive forms of interactions
(Tavolga, 1969). For communication to take place any one of the following conditions should be met: (1) The emitter must possess a specialized stimulus-producing mechanism (chemical, morphological, or
behavioral); (2) the stimulus must occupy a narrow portion of the available spectrum of the channel (frequency range, duration, patterning,
chemical specificity); and ( 3 ) the receiver must possess specialized
receptors and respond in a specific manner.
Most fishes can react with each other on the tonic level. Excretory
wastes, normal mucous secretions, carbon dioxide output, and other
metabolic byproducts are readily diffused through water and can affect
other animals in some physiological fashion. Body shapes, basic color
patterns, normal locomotion, and other manifestations of homeostasis and
maintenance behavior can result in both intra- and interspecies interactions.
Phasic level interactions are also common in fishes. The reaction to
Schreckstoff is an example, even though it can sometimes be speciesspecific. Many predator-prey interactions are on this level, as well as
much of aggressive and territorial behavior. Schooling is primarily a
phasic level interaction, and some aspects of reproductive behavior are
also phasic.
Although there is little evidence on signal level interactions in fishes,
indications are that the exchange of specific signals may be important
in reproductive behavior, especially during the prespawning, and parental
care stages. The courtship stage is probably most crucial, since species
and sex discrimination takes place at this time, and a continuing series
of attracting interactions is necessary to hold the pair in proximity until
the proper physiological state for spawning is reached. Such interactions
can also stimulate the members of the pair to develop into spawning con-
185
regular stages or events in the development of an organism. This would
include some primitive types of sex discriminatory and food discriminatory behavior.
Signal: Interactions in which receiver and/ or emitter utilizes some
specialized structures. Specialized forms of behavior would also be involved.
Symbolic and Language: Interactions based on high levels of nervous
integration, as in primates, including man.
The term “communication,” therefore, could include any one or more
levels in the above heirarchy of interactions. Restriction of the scope
of the term now becomes practical and meaningful. Signal, symbolic,
and language levels would comprise communication, while the vegetative,
tonic, and phasic levels would include primitive forms of interactions
(Tavolga, 1969). For communication to take place any one of the following conditions should be met: (1) The emitter must possess a specialized stimulus-producing mechanism (chemical, morphological, or
behavioral); (2) the stimulus must occupy a narrow portion of the available spectrum of the channel (frequency range, duration, patterning,
chemical specificity); and ( 3 ) the receiver must possess specialized
receptors and respond in a specific manner.
Most fishes can react with each other on the tonic level. Excretory
wastes, normal mucous secretions, carbon dioxide output, and other
metabolic byproducts are readily diffused through water and can affect
other animals in some physiological fashion. Body shapes, basic color
patterns, normal locomotion, and other manifestations of homeostasis and
maintenance behavior can result in both intra- and interspecies interactions.
Phasic level interactions are also common in fishes. The reaction to
Schreckstoff is an example, even though it can sometimes be speciesspecific. Many predator-prey interactions are on this level, as well as
much of aggressive and territorial behavior. Schooling is primarily a
phasic level interaction, and some aspects of reproductive behavior are
also phasic.
Although there is little evidence on signal level interactions in fishes,
indications are that the exchange of specific signals may be important
in reproductive behavior, especially during the prespawning, and parental
care stages. The courtship stage is probably most crucial, since species
and sex discrimination takes place at this time, and a continuing series
of attracting interactions is necessary to hold the pair in proximity until
the proper physiological state for spawning is reached. Such interactions
can also stimulate the members of the pair to develop into spawning con-