Full Description

"Midshipman generate different vocalizations in different social contexts: territorial males in nests hum for long durations to attract females, and generate short grunt- and growl- like vocalizations when defending their nests against other males (Brantley and Bass, 1994; Bass et al., 1999). Female midshipman, by contrast, do not hum, but do grunt when startled or threatened (Ibid). Not all threat-elicited grunts (in males or females) may relate to conspecific social interactions: the occurrence of grunts when midshipman are handled (Brantley and Bass, 1994; personal observations) may be suggestive of anti-predator vocalizations."

Observation Environment Quotes

"Female and territorial male midshipman fish were collected from nest sites on the Olympic peninsula in Washington state during the breeding season in May and June of 2007, 2009, and 2010. Fish were shipped to Gettysburg College, where they were maintained in 100 gallon artificial seawater tanks, with crushed coral substrate and artificial nest sites, at 15–16 8C on a 16:8 h light:dark cycle. Six to ten fish were housed per tank, 1–3 of which were female and the rest territorial males."

Behaviour Description Quotes

"Midshipman generate different vocalizations in different social contexts: territorial males in nests hum for long durations to attract females, and generate short grunt- and growl- like vocalizations when defending their nests against other males (Brantley and Bass, 1994; Bass et al., 1999). Female midshipman, by contrast, do not hum, but do grunt when startled or threatened (Ibid). Not all threat-elicited grunts (in males or females) may relate to conspecific social interactions: the occurrence of grunts when midshipman are handled (Brantley and Bass, 1994; personal observations) may be suggestive of anti-predator vocalizations. "

"To confirm breeding condition and behavior, in 2009 and 2010 tanks were periodically monitored for courtship vocalizations using a hydro- phone and digital audio recorder (Cetacean Research Technology, Seattle, WA, model SQ26). All fish utilized in quantitative immunohistochemical comparisons (see below) were taken from tanks where courtship humming was detected within the three days prior to the experiments."

Sound Name Quotes

"Midshipman generate different vocalizations in different social contexts: territorial males in nests hum for long durations to attract females, and generate short grunt- and growl- like vocalizations when defending their nests against other males (Brantley and Bass, 1994; Bass et al., 1999). Female midshipman, by contrast, do not hum, but do grunt when startled or threatened (Ibid). Not all threat-elicited grunts (in males or females) may relate to conspecific social interactions: the occurrence of grunts when midshipman are handled (Brantley and Bass, 1994; personal observations) may be suggestive of anti-predator vocalizations. "

"To confirm breeding condition and behavior, in 2009 and 2010 tanks were periodically monitored for courtship vocalizations using a hydro- phone and digital audio recorder (Cetacean Research Technology, Seattle, WA, model SQ26). All fish utilized in quantitative immunohistochemical comparisons (see below) were taken from tanks where courtship humming was detected within the three days prior to the experiments."