95
factors: (1) low frequency acoustic windows in the ambient noise frequency spectrum
(Lugli et al. 2003 ; Lugli 2010 ), and (2) nest cavity amplifi cation of low frequency
content (Lugli 2012 , 2013 , 2014 ). Shared habitats and nest cavity spawning are
expected to produce similar effects on S/N ratio in darters and sculpins, but further
study is required (Speares et al. 2011 ).
Territoriality and mate attraction are signifi cant factors associated with evolution
of acoustic communication of fi shes (Ladich and Myrberg 2006 ; Myrberg and Lugli
2006 ; Ladich 2014 ). Therefore, the similar reproductive life histories of sculpins,
darters, and gobies are of evolutionary interest in terms of sexual selection on
acoustic signals. Early phylogenetic examinations of sound production in darters
and gobies support associations between cavity building and sound production (CEJ
unpublished; Gkenas et al. 2010 ). Several authors have previously reviewed sound
production in gobies (Lugli et al. 1997 ; Bass and McKibben 2003 ; Myrberg and
Lugli 2006 ), but there is a body of novel work in gobies that could be critically
reviewed, and a comprehensive review of acoustic communication in sculpins and
darters is currently lacking.
1.1 Reproductive Ecologies
Soniferous darters, sculpins, and gobies share a benthic cavity spawning pattern
with male paternal care (Morris 1954 ; Page 1985 ; Torricelli et al. 1985 ; Knouft
et al. 2003 ). Generally, males compete for nest sites under rocks, logs, or other stable debris and court females to spawn and attach eggs to the inner nest surfaces.
After spawning, males defend the nest and court additional females (Page 1985 ;
Lindström and Hellström 1993 ; Whang and Janssen 1994 ). Sounds are most commonly observed during three categories of behaviour: agonistic contests, attracting females to spawn in the nest (pre-spawning), and/or during spawning itself
(Lugli et al. 1997 ; Lugli and Torricelli 1999 ; Johnston and Johnson 2000 ; Myrberg
and Lugli 2006 ; Kierl and Johnston 2010 ). These signals do not propagate far in the
shallow water habitats of these fi shes and are not used for long range advertisement,
as is found in toadfi shes.
Sound production has been described for six darter species within the Catonotus
subgenus of Etheostoma (Table 1 ). Catonotus darters occupy headwater streams in
eastern North America, utilizing an “egg clustering” spawning technique involving
placement of eggs as a single layer onto the cavity ceiling, which is typically a fl at
rock (Page 1985 ). Females prefer nests with eggs, and alloparental care has been
documented in this group (Knapp and Sargent 1989 ). Both agonistic and courtship
activities elicit sound production by males (Johnston and Johnson 2000 ; Speares
and Johnston 2011 ).
While coastal marine sculpins in the Northern Hemisphere constitute the bulk of
sculpin diversity, most of our knowledge about sound production in this taxon has
been gathered from freshwater species of the genus Cottus ( n = 6) and a few coastal
marine species: Myoxocephalus ( n = 3) and Leptocottus ( n = 1) (Table 1 ).
Convergent Aspects of Acoustic Communication in Darters, Sculpins, and Gobies
factors: (1) low frequency acoustic windows in the ambient noise frequency spectrum
(Lugli et al. 2003 ; Lugli 2010 ), and (2) nest cavity amplifi cation of low frequency
content (Lugli 2012 , 2013 , 2014 ). Shared habitats and nest cavity spawning are
expected to produce similar effects on S/N ratio in darters and sculpins, but further
study is required (Speares et al. 2011 ).
Territoriality and mate attraction are signifi cant factors associated with evolution
of acoustic communication of fi shes (Ladich and Myrberg 2006 ; Myrberg and Lugli
2006 ; Ladich 2014 ). Therefore, the similar reproductive life histories of sculpins,
darters, and gobies are of evolutionary interest in terms of sexual selection on
acoustic signals. Early phylogenetic examinations of sound production in darters
and gobies support associations between cavity building and sound production (CEJ
unpublished; Gkenas et al. 2010 ). Several authors have previously reviewed sound
production in gobies (Lugli et al. 1997 ; Bass and McKibben 2003 ; Myrberg and
Lugli 2006 ), but there is a body of novel work in gobies that could be critically
reviewed, and a comprehensive review of acoustic communication in sculpins and
darters is currently lacking.
1.1 Reproductive Ecologies
Soniferous darters, sculpins, and gobies share a benthic cavity spawning pattern
with male paternal care (Morris 1954 ; Page 1985 ; Torricelli et al. 1985 ; Knouft
et al. 2003 ). Generally, males compete for nest sites under rocks, logs, or other stable debris and court females to spawn and attach eggs to the inner nest surfaces.
After spawning, males defend the nest and court additional females (Page 1985 ;
Lindström and Hellström 1993 ; Whang and Janssen 1994 ). Sounds are most commonly observed during three categories of behaviour: agonistic contests, attracting females to spawn in the nest (pre-spawning), and/or during spawning itself
(Lugli et al. 1997 ; Lugli and Torricelli 1999 ; Johnston and Johnson 2000 ; Myrberg
and Lugli 2006 ; Kierl and Johnston 2010 ). These signals do not propagate far in the
shallow water habitats of these fi shes and are not used for long range advertisement,
as is found in toadfi shes.
Sound production has been described for six darter species within the Catonotus
subgenus of Etheostoma (Table 1 ). Catonotus darters occupy headwater streams in
eastern North America, utilizing an “egg clustering” spawning technique involving
placement of eggs as a single layer onto the cavity ceiling, which is typically a fl at
rock (Page 1985 ). Females prefer nests with eggs, and alloparental care has been
documented in this group (Knapp and Sargent 1989 ). Both agonistic and courtship
activities elicit sound production by males (Johnston and Johnson 2000 ; Speares
and Johnston 2011 ).
While coastal marine sculpins in the Northern Hemisphere constitute the bulk of
sculpin diversity, most of our knowledge about sound production in this taxon has
been gathered from freshwater species of the genus Cottus ( n = 6) and a few coastal
marine species: Myoxocephalus ( n = 3) and Leptocottus ( n = 1) (Table 1 ).
Convergent Aspects of Acoustic Communication in Darters, Sculpins, and Gobies