Sciaenidae

Abstract: The teleost family Sciaenidae, collectively known as the croakers and drums because of their propensity for making sound, includes roughly 70 genera and 270 species worldwide. Although many other groups of fish also communicate using sound, the sciaenids are unique in the diversity of their sound production mechanisms, variety of sounds produced, and structural variation in sound-detecting structures. This paper reviews the bioacoustics of sciaenid fishes, including mechanisms involved in the production and reception of sound, the types of sounds produced, and the functions of these sounds. We propose the hypothesis that the unusual diversity in the design of the structures associated with sound production and detection is correlated with a similar diversity in how these structures function. Production and detection of sound appear to be important aspects of sciaenid behavior. But despite the vast literature on sciaenid sound production, we know relatively little about the biological significance...

Abstract: Bioenergetics models for striped bass (Morone saxatilis), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), and weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) were developed from laboratory experiments on metabolism and consumption. Size-specific rates of consumption and metabolism were similar for bluefish and weakfish and higher than those for striped bass. Temperature effects on maximum consumption rate (Cmax) differed with fish size. Cmax of young fish (30 g) increased with temperature, then declined rapidly at higher temperatures; Cmax for larger fish of all three species (100–3000 g) increased rapidly to the maximum rate, but leveled off at higher (25–30 °C) temperatures. Results of Cmax experiments suggest that extrapolation of the temperature dependency of small fish to larger fish, as is commonly done, may misrepresent potential growth at higher temperatures. Independent model validation using laboratory experiments found consumption estimates (from growth) to be within −1.4 to +4.5% of known values for all species at temperatures ...

Abstract: Exact locations of spawning areas used by marine fishes are needed to design marine reserves and estimate spawning stocks. The location of spawning areas of soniferous fishes such as weakfish Cynoscion regalis can be determined by means of passive hydroacoustic surveys. We conducted nocturnal hydrophone surveys at 12 locations in Pamlico Sound in May of 1996 and 1997. Digital audio tapes were made of weakfish “purring” sounds, the tapes were analyzed spectrographically and compared with ichthyoplankton surveys taken at the same stations and times. All weakfish “purring” sounds were recorded at stations near inlets. Maximum sound pressure levels recorded after sunset were 127 dB (re 1 (μPa) for individual weakfish, but reached a maximum of 147 dB when weakfish and other fish were producing sounds simultaneously. The maximum distance that an individual weakfish “purr” can be detected above the background sound, assuming a cylindrical spreading model, is approximately 50 m. There was a strong associ...