Full Description

"Male weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, produce drum with sonic muscles that vibrate the swim bladder, and a second sound dubbed"chatter,"circumstantially linked to weakfish, is likely produced by cusk-eels (family Ophidiidae.)"

". A typical chatter is a train of pulses with durations of up to 2.4 seconds with most energy between 800 Hz to 1800 Hz. Drumming consists of shorter pulse trains of lower pitch. Drumming is present in the spring, and chatter is present in the spring and summer."

"Sound pressure level measurements (SPL) were made from typical disturbance calls of drumming weakfish maintained in the laboratory: calls averaged 74 dB re: 20uPa at 10 cm with the peak frequency at 540 Hz (Connaughton et al. 2000)."

"The sounds were short repetitive trains of a burst of 6-8 to 10-12 pulses at a rate of 10-22 pps. Train duration ranged from 0.5 to 0.9 s (Fig. 2A and B) and dominant frequency was about 400 Hz. Trains were repeated at 3 to 4 second intervals. Trains from individuals varied in sound level (Fig. 2 C) suggesting a meandering motion by the fish. Chatter was typically present in deeper areas with depth ranges of 3 to 5 m near bridges, currents, sandbars, and beaches. Chatter had a higher pitch than drumming, centered at about 1200 Hz (Fig. 3). The chatter was usually a long train of pulses with pulse repetition rates of 16 to 25 pps. Train durations varied, most were within 2.4 seconds and fewer within 3 seconds. Individual chatter trains were similar in duration and pps for the same evening. Pulse repetition rates for drumming and chatter were similar during the early days of the season of calling, 14-18 pps."

"Except for train duration, chatter signatures do not change much during a season."

"As water temperature increased, trains were longer and included more pulses per train."

"A slow and gradual chatter of each of the chorus participants made their introduction, and all had sounded off within about 40 minutes from the first sounds. Within an hour, the peak of the crescendo was almost a constant noise for an hour or more (Fig. 4); gradually the crescendo began to fall off to lesser chatter and eventually silence. A typical chatter chorus began as one train was followed by another from a different individual. They were often superimposed or overlapping."

"By listening to the intensity and the character of the sound, one can easily differentiate one fish from another (Fig. 5), which suggests that the fish are spread out and relatively stationary."

". The term"high-pitched clucking"of both sexes was also used by Fish and Mowbray (1970)."

"Fish (1954) monitored holding pens containing male and female weakfish but reported no sounds described as chatter, only croaks/drumbeats with frequencies no higher than 550 Hz."

Observation Environment Quotes

"Middlebridge, located on the Pettaquamscutt River (Narrow River) South Kingstown and Narragansett town line, was selected as the site to monitor 'chatter' sounds, as it provided a natural basin for sound signature studies."

Sound Name Quotes

"Male weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, produce drum with sonic muscles that vibrate the swim bladder, and a second sound dubbed 'chatter,' circumstantially linked to weakfish, is likely produced by cusk-eels (family Ophidiidae.) "

". A typical chatter is a train of pulses with durations of up to 2.4 seconds with most energy between 800 Hz to 1800 Hz. Drumming consists of shorter pulse trains of lower pitch. Drumming is present in the spring, and chatter is present in the spring and summer."

"The sounds were short repetitive trains of a burst of 6-8 to 10-12 pulses at a rate of 10-22 pps. Train duration ranged from 0.5 to 0.9 s (Fig. 2A and B) and dominant frequency was about 400 Hz. Trains were repeated at 3 to 4 second intervals. Trains from individuals varied in sound level (Fig. 2 C) suggesting a meandering motion by the fish. Chatter was typically present in deeper areas with depth ranges of 3 to 5 m near bridges, currents, sandbars, and beaches. Chatter had a higher pitch than drumming, centered at about 1200 Hz (Fig. 3). The chatter was usually a long train of pulses with pulse repetition rates of 16 to 25 pps. Train durations varied, most were within 2.4 seconds and fewer within 3 seconds. Individual chatter trains were similar in duration and pps for the same evening. Pulse repetition rates for drumming and chatter were similar during the early days of the season of calling, 14-18 pps."

"A slow and gradual chatter of each of the chorus participants made their introduction, and all had sounded off within about 40 minutes from the first sounds. Within an hour, the peak of the crescendo was almost a constant noise for an hour or more (Fig. 4); gradually the crescendo began to fall off to lesser chatter and eventually silence. A typical chatter chorus began as one train was followed by another from a different individual. They were often superimposed or overlapping.' '. The term 'high-pitched clucking' of both sexes was also used by Fish and Mowbray (1970)."

"Fish (1954) monitored holding pens containing male and female weakfish but reported no sounds described as chatter, only croaks/drumbeats with frequencies no higher than 550 Hz."

Full Description

"Using two separate time/amplitude chart recorders, one having a calibrated potentiometer, the other a galvanometer, chattering was recorded at 35 dB above the ambient noise of Middlebridge which included many"boatwhistles"from toadfish, Opsanus tau."

Observation Environment Quotes

"Middlebridge, located on the Pettaquamscutt River (Narrow River) South Kingstown and Narragansett town line, was selected as the site to monitor 'chatter' sounds, as it provided a natural basin for sound signature studies."

Sound Name Quotes

"Using two separate time/amplitude chart recorders, one having a calibrated potentiometer, the other a galvanometer, chattering was recorded at 35 dB above the ambient noise of Middlebridge which included many 'boatwhistles' from toadfish, Opsanus tau."