1
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Deng X, Wagner HJ, Popper AN. Comparison of the saccules and lagenae in six macrourid fishes from different deep-sea habitatsa). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:2937-2949. [PMID: 37938046 PMCID: PMC10769568 DOI: 10.1121/10.0022354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
There are substantial interspecific differences in the morphology of the ears of the more than 34 000 living fish species. However, almost nothing is known about the functional significance of these differences. One reason is that most comparative studies have been conducted on shallow-water species with far less focus on the numerous species that inhabit the depths of the oceans. Thus, to get a better sense of ear diversity in fishes and its potential role in hearing, this study focuses on the saccule and lagena, the primary auditory end organs, in six species of the family Macrouridae (rattails), a large group of fishes that typically inhabit depths from 1000 to 4000 m. The inner ears and, particularly, the saccules and lagenae in these species are large with the saccule resembling that of other Gadiformes. The lagenae of all macrourids studied here have serrated edge otoliths and highly diverse hair cell ciliary bundle shapes. The differences found in the inner ear anatomy of macrourids likely reflect the sensory advantages in different habitats that are related to the benefits and constraints at different depths, the fish's particular lifestyle, and the trade-off among different sensory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Deng
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | | | - Arthur N Popper
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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2
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Sauer DJ, Yopak KE, Radford CA. Interspecific Variation in the Inner Ear Maculae of Sharks. Integr Org Biol 2023; 5:obad031. [PMID: 37732173 PMCID: PMC10506894 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obad031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
There is well-documented diversity in the organization of inner ear hair cells in fishes; this variation is thought to reflect the differing functional requirements of species across a range of ecological niches. However, relatively little is known about interspecific variation (and its potential ecological implications) in the number and density of inner ear hair cells in elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays). In this study, we quantified inner ear hair cells in the saccule, lagena, utricle, and macula neglecta of 9 taxonomically and ecologically distinct shark species. Using phylogenetically informed comparative approaches, sharks that feed in the water column had significantly greater hair cell density and total number of hair cells in the lagena and macula neglecta (i.e., vertically oriented maculae) compared to species that feed primarily on the seafloor. In addition, sharks within Carcharhinidae seemingly possess a specialized macula neglecta compared to other shark species. Overall, findings suggest that, similar to bony fishes, there is considerable variation in hair cell organization of shark inner ears, which may be tied to variation in ecology and/or specialized behaviors between different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek J Sauer
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Leigh 0985, New Zealand
| | - Kara E Yopak
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology and the Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA
| | - Craig A Radford
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Leigh 0985, New Zealand
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3
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Chapuis L, Yopak KE, Radford CA. From the morphospace to the soundscape: Exploring the diversity and functional morphology of the fish inner ear, with a focus on elasmobranchsa). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:1526-1538. [PMID: 37695297 DOI: 10.1121/10.0020850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Fishes, including elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates), present an astonishing diversity in inner ear morphologies; however, the functional significance of these variations and how they confer auditory capacity is yet to be resolved. The relationship between inner ear structure and hearing performance is unclear, partly because most of the morphological and biomechanical mechanisms that underlie the hearing functions are complex and poorly known. Here, we present advanced opportunities to document discontinuities in the macroevolutionary trends of a complex biological form, like the inner ear, and test hypotheses regarding what factors may be driving morphological diversity. Three-dimensional (3D) bioimaging, geometric morphometrics, and finite element analysis are methods that can be combined to interrogate the structure-to-function links in elasmobranch fish inner ears. In addition, open-source 3D morphology datasets, advances in phylogenetic comparative methods, and methods for the analysis of highly multidimensional shape data have leveraged these opportunities. Questions that can be explored with this toolkit are identified, the different methods are justified, and remaining challenges are highlighted as avenues for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Chapuis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - K E Yopak
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Centre for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, USA
| | - C A Radford
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Leigh 0985, New Zealand
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4
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Sauer DJ, Radford CA, Mull CG, Yopak KE. Quantitative assessment of inner ear variation in elasmobranchs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11939. [PMID: 37488259 PMCID: PMC10366120 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39151-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable diversity has been documented in most sensory systems of elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates); however, relatively little is known about morphological variation in the auditory system of these fishes. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the inner ear structures of 26 elasmobranchs were assessed in situ. The inner ear end organs (saccule, lagena, utricle, and macula neglecta), semi-circular canals (horizontal, anterior, and posterior), and endolymphatic duct were compared using phylogenetically-informed, multivariate analyses. Inner ear variation can be characterised by three primary axes that are influenced by diet and habitat, where piscivorous elasmobranchs have larger inner ears compared to non-piscivorous species, and reef-associated species have larger inner ears than oceanic species. Importantly, this variation may reflect differences in auditory specialisation that could be tied to the functional requirements and environmental soundscapes of different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek J Sauer
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Leigh, New Zealand.
| | - Craig A Radford
- Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Leigh, New Zealand
| | - Christopher G Mull
- Integrated Fisheries Laboratory, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Kara E Yopak
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology and the Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
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5
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Ontogeny of the inner ear maculae in school sharks (Galeorhinus galeus). Hear Res 2022; 424:108600. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2022.108600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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6
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Araújo R, David R, Benoit J, Lungmus JK, Stoessel A, Barrett PM, Maisano JA, Ekdale E, Orliac M, Luo ZX, Martinelli AG, Hoffman EA, Sidor CA, Martins RMS, Spoor F, Angielczyk KD. Inner ear biomechanics reveals a Late Triassic origin for mammalian endothermy. Nature 2022; 607:726-731. [PMID: 35859179 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04963-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Endothermy underpins the ecological dominance of mammals and birds in diverse environmental settings1,2. However, it is unclear when this crucial feature emerged during mammalian evolutionary history, as most of the fossil evidence is ambiguous3-17. Here we show that this key evolutionary transition can be investigated using the morphology of the endolymph-filled semicircular ducts of the inner ear, which monitor head rotations and are essential for motor coordination, navigation and spatial awareness18-22. Increased body temperatures during the ectotherm-endotherm transition of mammal ancestors would decrease endolymph viscosity, negatively affecting semicircular duct biomechanics23,24, while simultaneously increasing behavioural activity25,26 probably required improved performance27. Morphological changes to the membranous ducts and enclosing bony canals would have been necessary to maintain optimal functionality during this transition. To track these morphofunctional changes in 56 extinct synapsid species, we developed the thermo-motility index, a proxy based on bony canal morphology. The results suggest that endothermy evolved abruptly during the Late Triassic period in Mammaliamorpha, correlated with a sharp increase in body temperature (5-9 °C) and an expansion of aerobic and anaerobic capacities. Contrary to previous suggestions3-14, all stem mammaliamorphs were most probably ectotherms. Endothermy, as a crucial physiological characteristic, joins other distinctive mammalian features that arose during this period of climatic instability28.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Araújo
- Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Institut des Sciences de L'Évolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Romain David
- Natural History Museum, London, UK. .,Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Julien Benoit
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jacqueline K Lungmus
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, USA
| | - Alexander Stoessel
- Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Jessica A Maisano
- Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Eric Ekdale
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Paleontology, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Maëva Orliac
- Institut des Sciences de L'Évolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Zhe-Xi Luo
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Agustín G Martinelli
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 'Bernardino Rivadavia', Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eva A Hoffman
- Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christian A Sidor
- Burke Museum and Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rui M S Martins
- Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fred Spoor
- Natural History Museum, London, UK.,Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Anthropology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kenneth D Angielczyk
- Neguanee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA.
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7
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Popper AN, Hawkins AD, Sisneros JA. Fish hearing "specialization" - A re-valuation. Hear Res 2021; 425:108393. [PMID: 34823877 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Investigators working with fish bioacoustics used to refer to fishes that have a narrow hearing bandwidth and poor sensitivity as "hearing generalists" (or "non-specialists"), while fishes that could detect a wider hearing bandwidth and had greater sensitivity were referred to as specialists. However, as more was learned about fish hearing mechanism and capacities, these terms became hard to apply since it was clear there were gradations in hearing capabilities. Popper and Fay, in a paper in Hearing Research in 2011, proposed that these terms be dropped because of the gradation. While this was widely accepted by investigators, it is now apparent that the lack of relatively concise terminology for fish hearing capabilities makes it hard to discuss fish hearing. Thus, in this paper we resurrect the terms specialist and non-specialist but use them with modifiers to express the specific structure of function that is considered a specialization. Moreover, this resurrection recognizes that hearing specializations in fishes may not only be related to increased bandwidth and/or sensitivity, but to other, perhaps more important, aspects of hearing such as sound source localization, discrimination between sounds, and detection of sounds in the presence of masking signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur N Popper
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USA; Environmental BioAcoustics, LLC, Silver Spring, MD USA.
| | - Anthony D Hawkins
- Environmental BioAcoustics, LLC, Silver Spring, MD USA; Loughine Ltd, Aberdeen, UK
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8
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Eastman JT, La Mesa M. Neuromorphological disparity in deep-living sister species of the Antarctic fish genus Trematomus. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02794-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Capshaw G, Soares D, Carr CE. Bony labyrinth morphometry reveals hidden diversity in lungless salamanders (Family Plethodontidae): Structural correlates of ecology, development, and vision in the inner ear. Evolution 2019; 73:2135-2150. [PMID: 31436320 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Lungless salamanders (Family Plethodontidae) form a highly speciose group that has undergone spectacular adaptive radiation to colonize a multitude of habitats. Substantial morphological variation in the otic region coupled with great ecological diversity within this clade make plethodontids an excellent model for exploring the ecomorphology of the amphibian ear. We examined the influence of habitat, development, and vision on inner ear morphology in 52 plethodontid species. We collected traditional and 3D geometric morphometric measurements to characterize variation in size and shape of the otic endocast and peripheral structures of the salamander ear. Phylogenetic comparative analyses demonstrate structural convergence in the inner ear across ecologically similar species. Species that dwell in spatially complex microhabitats exhibit robust, highly curved semicircular canals suggesting enhanced vestibular sense, whereas species with reduced visual systems demonstrate reduced canal curvature indicative of relaxed selection on the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Cave specialists show parallel enlargement of auditory-associated structures. The morphological correlates of ecology among diverse species reveal underlying evidence of habitat specialization in the inner ear and suggest that there exists physiological variation in the function of the salamander ear even in the apparent absence of selective pressures on the auditory system to support acoustic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Capshaw
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742
| | - Daphne Soares
- Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102
| | - Catherine E Carr
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742
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10
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Long NP, Farina SC. Enormous gill chambers of deep-sea coffinfishes (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae) support unique ventilatory specialisations such as breath holding and extreme inflation. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 95:502-509. [PMID: 31073988 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Deep sea habitats tend to favor species with low energetic demands, and therefore we predict that deep sea fishes will have behavioral and morphological specializations of the gill ventilatory system to reduce the energetic cost of pumping water across the gills. However, it is difficult to study functional morphology of deep sea fishes due the lack of ability to conduct laboratory experiments with living fishes. For this study, we combined analysis of publicly available video recorded by remote-operated vehicles (ROV) with detailed anatomical study of museum specimens to document the functional morphology of the massive gill chambers that are observed in coffinfishes (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae). Chaunacids, like other lophiiforms, exhibit highly specialised ventilatory anatomy such as an enlarged branchiostegal apparatus and restricted gill openings, but videos show them using this anatomy in a new and unusual way. We observed eight individuals ventilating extremely slowly at rates of 0.03-0.004 Hz, during which the gill chambers were full yet we saw no inhalation or exhalation for periods of 26 to 245 s. This holding breath behaviour has not been observed in any other fishes and is probably highly energetically efficient. This inflation of the gill chambers also increases body volume by up to 30%, making them more globose and difficult to be taken as prey, much like stomach inflation in pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae). We also used micro computed-tomography (CT) scans to document the enormous branchiostegal rays and associated muscles that support this unique behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Long
- Department of Biology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stacy C Farina
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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11
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Hawkins AD, Popper AN. Directional hearing and sound source localization by fishes. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 144:3329. [PMID: 30599653 DOI: 10.1121/1.5082306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Directional hearing may enable fishes to seek out prey, avoid predators, find mates, and detect important spatial cues. Early sound localization experiments gave negative results, and it was thought unlikely that fishes utilized the same direction-finding mechanisms as terrestrial vertebrates. However, fishes swim towards underwater sound sources, and some can discriminate between sounds from different directions and distances. The otolith organs of the inner ear detect the particle motion components of sound, acting as vector detectors through the presence of sensory hair cells with differing orientation. However, many questions remain on inner ear functioning. There are problems in understanding the actual mechanisms involved in determining sound direction and distance. Moreover, very little is still known about the ability of fishes to locate sound sources in three-dimensional space. Do fishes swim directly towards a source, or instead "sample" sound levels while moving towards the source? To what extent do fishes utilize other senses and especially vision in locating the source? Further behavioral studies of free-swimming fishes are required to provide better understanding of how fishes might actually locate sound sources. In addition, more experiments are required on the auditory mechanism that fishes may utilize.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arthur N Popper
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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12
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Schulz-Mirbach T, Ladich F, Plath M, Heß M. Enigmatic ear stones: what we know about the functional role and evolution of fish otoliths. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 94:457-482. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Schulz-Mirbach
- Department Biology II, Zoology; Ludwig-Maximilians-University; Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried Germany
| | - Friedrich Ladich
- Department of Behavioural Biology; University of Vienna; Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna Austria
| | - Martin Plath
- College of Animal Science & Technology; Northwest A&F University; 22 Xinong Road, Yangling Shaanxi China
| | - Martin Heß
- Department Biology II, Zoology; Ludwig-Maximilians-University; Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried Germany
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13
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Popper AN, Hawkins AD. The importance of particle motion to fishes and invertebrates. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 143:470. [PMID: 29390747 DOI: 10.1121/1.5021594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper considers the importance of particle motion to fishes and invertebrates and the steps that need to be taken to improve knowledge of its effects. It is aimed at scientists investigating the impacts of sounds on fishes and invertebrates but it is also relevant to regulators, those preparing environmental impact assessments, and to industries creating underwater sounds. The overall aim of this paper is to ensure that proper attention is paid to particle motion as a stimulus when evaluating the effects of sound upon aquatic life. Directions are suggested for future research and planning that, if implemented, will provide a better scientific basis for dealing with the impact of underwater sounds on marine ecosystems and for regulating those human activities that generate such sounds. The paper includes background material on underwater acoustics, focusing on particle motion; the importance of particle motion to fishes and invertebrates; and sound propagation through both water and the substrate. Consideration is then given to the data gaps that must be filled in order to better understand the interactions between particle motion and aquatic animals. Finally, suggestions are provided on how to increase the understanding of particle motion and its relevance to aquatic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur N Popper
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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14
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Ladich F, Schulz-Mirbach T. Diversity in Fish Auditory Systems: One of the Riddles of Sensory Biology. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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15
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Baxendale S, Whitfield TT. Methods to study the development, anatomy, and function of the zebrafish inner ear across the life course. Methods Cell Biol 2016; 134:165-209. [PMID: 27312494 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The inner ear is a remarkably intricate structure able to detect sound, motion, and gravity. During development of the zebrafish embryo, the ear undergoes dynamic morphogenesis from a simple epithelial vesicle into a complex labyrinth, consisting of three semicircular canals and three otolithic sensory organs, each with an array of differentiated cell types. This microcosm of biology has led to advances in understanding molecular and cellular changes in epithelial patterning and morphogenesis, through to mechanisms of mechanosensory transduction and the origins of reflexive behavior. In this chapter, we describe different methods to study the zebrafish ear, including high-speed imaging of otic cilia, confocal microscopy, and light-sheet fluorescent microscopy. Many dyes, antibodies, and transgenic lines for labeling the ear are available, and we provide a comprehensive review of these resources. The developing ear is amenable to genetic, chemical, and physical manipulations, including injection and transplantation. Chemical modulation of developmental signaling pathways has paved the way for zebrafish to be widely used in drug discovery. We describe two chemical screens with relevance to the ear: a fluorescent-based screen for compounds that protect against ototoxicity, and an in situ-based screen for modulators of a signaling pathway involved in semicircular canal development. We also describe methods for dissection and imaging of the adult otic epithelia. We review both manual and automated methods to test the function of the inner ear and lateral line, defects in which can lead to altered locomotor behavior. Finally, we review a collection of zebrafish models that are generating new insights into human deafness and vestibular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Baxendale
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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16
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Schulz-Mirbach T, Ladich F. Diversity of Inner Ears in Fishes: Possible Contribution Towards Hearing Improvements and Evolutionary Considerations. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 877:341-91. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-21059-9_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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17
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Fishy Hearing: A Short Biography of Arthur N. Popper, PhD. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 877:3-11. [PMID: 26515307 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-21059-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Biologist Dr. Arthur Popper's career spans decades, from his early work on comparative inner ear morphology in fishes to his recent interest in how underwater noise impacts aquatic vertebrates. Along the way Dr. Popper's research subjects span at least 19 vertebrate taxa, from lamprey to lungfish to humans, and he's had a profound influence in the field of fish bioacoustics. This brief biography describes some of Dr. Popper's many contributions to fish hearing research and highlights both some of his major discoveries and some of the biological mysteries he has yet to solve.
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18
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Iglesias TL, Dornburg A, Brandley MC, Alfaro ME, Warren DL. Life in the unthinking depths: energetic constraints on encephalization in marine fishes. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:1080-90. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T. L. Iglesias
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; North Ryde Sydney NSW Australia
| | - A. Dornburg
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Yale University; New Haven CT USA
| | - M. C. Brandley
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - M. E. Alfaro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of California; Los Angeles CA USA
| | - D. L. Warren
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; North Ryde Sydney NSW Australia
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19
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Tuset VM, Imondi R, Aguado G, Otero-Ferrer JL, Santschi L, Lombarte A, Love M. Otolith patterns of rockfishes from the northeastern pacific. J Morphol 2014; 276:458-69. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victor M. Tuset
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC); Passeig Marítim 37-49 08003 Barcelona Catalonia Spain
| | - Ralph Imondi
- Coastal Marine Biolabs, Integrative Biosciences Program; 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 101 Ventura California
| | - Guillermo Aguado
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC); Passeig Marítim 37-49 08003 Barcelona Catalonia Spain
| | - José L. Otero-Ferrer
- Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal-Facultade de Ciencias; Universidade de Vigo; 36310 Vigo Spain
| | - Linda Santschi
- Coastal Marine Biolabs, Integrative Biosciences Program; 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 101 Ventura California
| | - Antoni Lombarte
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC); Passeig Marítim 37-49 08003 Barcelona Catalonia Spain
| | - Milton Love
- Marine Science Institute, University of California; Santa Barbara California
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Schulz-Mirbach T, Ladich F, Plath M, Metscher BD, Heß M. Are accessory hearing structures linked to inner ear morphology? Insights from 3D orientation patterns of ciliary bundles in three cichlid species. Front Zool 2014; 11:25. [PMID: 24645675 PMCID: PMC3999956 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-11-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cichlid fishes show considerable diversity in swim bladder morphology. In members of the subfamily Etroplinae, the connection between anterior swim bladder extensions and the inner ears enhances sound transmission and translates into an improved hearing ability. We tested the hypothesis that those swim bladder modifications coincide with differences in inner ear morphology and thus compared Steatocranus tinanti (vestigial swim bladder), Hemichromis guttatus (large swim bladder without extensions), and Etroplus maculatus (intimate connection between swim bladder and inner ears). Methodology and results We applied immunostaining together with confocal imaging and scanning electron microscopy for the investigation of sensory epithelia, and high-resolution, contrast-enhanced microCT imaging for characterizing inner ears in 3D, and evaluated otolith dimensions. Compared to S. tinanti and H. guttatus, inner ears of E. maculatus showed an enlargement of all three maculae, and a particularly large lacinia of the macula utriculi. While our analysis of orientation patterns of ciliary bundles on the three macula types using artificially flattened maculae uncovered rather similar orientation patterns of ciliary bundles, interspecific differences became apparent when illustrating the orientation patterns on the 3D models of the maculae: differences in the shape and curvature of the lacinia of the macula utriculi, and the anterior arm of the macula lagenae resulted in an altered arrangement of ciliary bundles. Conclusions Our results imply that improved audition in E. maculatus is associated not only with swim bladder modifications but also with altered inner ear morphology. However, not all modifications in E. maculatus could be connected to enhanced auditory abilities, and so a potential improvement of the vestibular sense, among others, also needs to be considered. Our study highlights the value of analyzing orientation patterns of ciliary bundles in their intact 3D context in studies of inner ear morphology and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Schulz-Mirbach
- Department Biology II, Zoology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Martinsried, Germany.
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