Full Description

"Both field and tank observations indicated that red drum males make calls with four or fewer pulses per call without associated spawning. However, calls consisting of at least 8 pulses/ call occurred only prior to spawning."

"Duration of peak red drum sound production at this site varied from 1 to 4 h but generally occurred from 1600 to 1900 hours."

"Passive acoustic surveys can be used to cover large geographical areas to detect drumming aggregations of red drum (Johnson and Funicelli 1991; Luczkovich et al. 1999). Male sciaenids produce drumming sounds by using specially developed muscles to vibrate the gas bladder membrane (Gilmore 2002). These sounds or calls are species specific. A typical red drum call is made up of a burst of pulses (each pulse sounds like an individual ‘‘knock,’’ and the call is often made up of multiple knocks or pulses), and the dominant sound energy is in the range of 240 to 1,000 Hz (Guest and Lasswell 1978). These drumming sounds are correlated with spawning season and location (Mok and Gilmore 1983; Saucier and Baltz 1993), thus making it possible to determine temporal and spatial aspects of red drum reproduction."

"Drumming aggregations or drum roll calls were considered indicative of spawning activity."

"Fish in both tanks demonstrated some level of drumming and courtship activity each night, although spawning occurred only on 14 April 1997. A typical call consisted of multiple pulses per call, and the majority of the sound energy occurred from 100 to 1,200 Hz (Figure 4). However, frequency ranges varied somewhat among individual fish."

"Calls consisted of several strong initial pulses and then many weaker pulses that were so close together that they could not be individually detected by ear. We termed this sound pattern the drum roll (Figure 5)."

"Although red drum sound production occurred even when there was no spawning, sound production clearly differed between spawning and nonspawning periods. On 12 April 1997, sound production was never greater than 10 calls/min and the mean pulse repetition rate was less than 3 pulses/call (Figure 6). In comparison, on 14 April 1997, the calling frequency just prior to spawning was over 30 calls/min and the mean pulse repetition rate was greater than 5 pulses/call. In addition, many calls had at least 8 pulses/call, thus producing the drum roll."

"Red drum calls consisting of one to three pulses occurred over a greater time period than that observed in captivity."

"Peak sound production was detected from about 1600 to 1900 hours."

"Group size category, pulse repetition category, and maximum pulse repetition rate all showed similar periodicities (Figure 7). Mean initiation time of aggregation sound occurred at 1612 hours (range = 1500–1730 hours). Termination of aggregation sound was often prior to sunset (sunset ~ 1915 hours) and varied from 1800 to 2000 hours (mean = 1851 hours). Duration of aggregation sound varied from 1 to 4 h (Figure 8). Maximum duration of aggregation sound occurred when slack high tide fell within the window of aggregation sound (Figure 8). However, aggregation sound was detected nightly, both on flood tides and ebb tides."

"Four were males and produced drumming as a startle response while being taken from the water."

"Red drum make a distinctive deep, knocking sound, and there was an increase in both calling frequency and pulse repetition rate in the hours prior to spawning; calls containing at least eight pulses were associated with spawning activity. However, calls characterized by four or fewer pulses occurred without any spawning activity."

"Based on sound production, we estimated that the red drum spawning season occurred during August through mid-October."

Observation Environment Quotes

"Spawning red drum were observed in captivity to determine the level of sound associated with spawning. In 1997, a known red drum spawning site was sampled weekly with a mobile hydrophone and continuously with a remote hydrophone deployed from 23 September to 2 October 1997."

Behaviour Description Quotes

"However, calls consisting of at least 8 pulses/ call occurred only prior to spawning. "

"Fish in both tanks demonstrated some level of drumming and courtship activity each night, although spawning occurred only on 14 April 1997. A typical call consisted of multiple pulses per call, and the majority of the sound energy occurred from 100 to 1,200 Hz (Figure 4). However, frequency ranges varied somewhat among individual fish."

" Four were males and produced drumming as a startle response while being taken from the water."

"Red drum make a distinctive deep, knocking sound, and there was an increase in both calling frequency and pulse repetition rate in the hours prior to spawning; calls containing at least eight pulses were associated with spawning activity. However, calls characterized by four or fewer pulses occurred without any spawning activity."

Sound Name Quotes

"Both field and tank observations indicated that red drum males make calls with four or fewer pulses per call without associated spawning. However, calls consisting of at least 8 pulses/ call occurred only prior to spawning. "

"Passive acoustic surveys can be used to cover large geographical areas to detect drumming aggregations of red drum (Johnson and Funicelli 1991; Luczkovich et al. 1999). Male sciaenids produce drumming sounds by using specially developed muscles to vibrate the gas bladder membrane (Gilmore 2002). These sounds or calls are species specific. A typical red drum call is made up of a burst of pulses (each pulse sounds like an individual ‘‘knock,’’ and the call is often made up of multiple knocks or pulses), and the dominant sound energy is in the range of 240 to 1,000 Hz (Guest and Lasswell 1978). These drumming sounds are correlated with spawning season and location (Mok and Gilmore 1983; Saucier and Baltz 1993), thus making it possible to determine temporal and spatial aspects of red drum reproduction."

" Drumming aggregations or drum roll calls were considered indicative of spawning activity."

"Calls consisted of several strong initial pulses and then many weaker pulses that were so close together that they could not be individually detected by ear. We termed this sound pattern the drum roll (Figure 5). "

"Red drum make a distinctive deep, knocking sound, and there was an increase in both calling frequency and pulse repetition rate in the hours prior to spawning; calls containing at least eight pulses were associated with spawning activity. However, calls characterized by four or fewer pulses occurred without any spawning activity."