291
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
J.A. Sisneros (ed.), Fish Hearing and Bioacoustics, Advances in Experimental
Medicine and Biology 877, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-21059-9_14
Development of Structure and Sensitivity
of the Fish Inner Ear
Raquel O. Vasconcelos , Peter W. Alderks , and Joseph A. Sisneros
Abstract Fish represent the largest group of vertebrates and display the greatest
diversity of auditory structures. However, studies addressing how the form and
function of the auditory system change during development to enhance perception
of the acoustic environment are rather sparse in this taxon compared to other vertebrate groups. An ontogenetic perspective of the auditory system in fi shes provides a
readily testable framework for understanding structure–function relationships.
Additionally, studying ancestral models such as fi sh can convey valuable comparable information across vertebrates, as early developmental events are often evolutionary conserved. This chapter reviews the literature on the morphological
development of the fi sh auditory system, with particular focus on the inner ear structures that evolve from an otic placode during early embryonic development and then
continue to undergo differentiation and maturation in the postembryonic phase.
Moreover, the chapter provides a systematic overview of how auditory sensitivity
develops during ontogeny. Although most studies indicate a developmental improvement in auditory sensitivity, there is considerably species-specifi c variation. Lastly,
the paucity of information and literature concerning the development of auditory
capabilities for social communication in fi shes is also discussed. Further investigation on the development of structure and function of the fi sh auditory system is
recommended in order to obtain a deeper understanding of how ontogenetic morphological changes in the auditory pathway relate to modifi cations in acoustic
reception, auditory processing, and the capacity to communicate acoustically.
Keywords Fish ontogeny • Auditory development • Auditory physiology • Ear
morphology
R. O. Vasconcelos (*)
Institute of Science and Environment , University of Saint Joseph , Macau, S.A.R. , China
e-mail: raquel.vasconcelos@usj.edu.mo
P. W. Alderks
Department of Psychology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA 98195 , USA
J. A. Sisneros
Department of Psychology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA 98195 , USA
Department of Biology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA 98195 , USA
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
J.A. Sisneros (ed.), Fish Hearing and Bioacoustics, Advances in Experimental
Medicine and Biology 877, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-21059-9_14
Development of Structure and Sensitivity
of the Fish Inner Ear
Raquel O. Vasconcelos , Peter W. Alderks , and Joseph A. Sisneros
Abstract Fish represent the largest group of vertebrates and display the greatest
diversity of auditory structures. However, studies addressing how the form and
function of the auditory system change during development to enhance perception
of the acoustic environment are rather sparse in this taxon compared to other vertebrate groups. An ontogenetic perspective of the auditory system in fi shes provides a
readily testable framework for understanding structure–function relationships.
Additionally, studying ancestral models such as fi sh can convey valuable comparable information across vertebrates, as early developmental events are often evolutionary conserved. This chapter reviews the literature on the morphological
development of the fi sh auditory system, with particular focus on the inner ear structures that evolve from an otic placode during early embryonic development and then
continue to undergo differentiation and maturation in the postembryonic phase.
Moreover, the chapter provides a systematic overview of how auditory sensitivity
develops during ontogeny. Although most studies indicate a developmental improvement in auditory sensitivity, there is considerably species-specifi c variation. Lastly,
the paucity of information and literature concerning the development of auditory
capabilities for social communication in fi shes is also discussed. Further investigation on the development of structure and function of the fi sh auditory system is
recommended in order to obtain a deeper understanding of how ontogenetic morphological changes in the auditory pathway relate to modifi cations in acoustic
reception, auditory processing, and the capacity to communicate acoustically.
Keywords Fish ontogeny • Auditory development • Auditory physiology • Ear
morphology
R. O. Vasconcelos (*)
Institute of Science and Environment , University of Saint Joseph , Macau, S.A.R. , China
e-mail: raquel.vasconcelos@usj.edu.mo
P. W. Alderks
Department of Psychology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA 98195 , USA
J. A. Sisneros
Department of Psychology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA 98195 , USA
Department of Biology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA 98195 , USA