Meeting Abstract

14.3  Tuesday, Jan. 4  The effects of conspecific playbacks on behavior and hormone modulation in Etheostoma crossopterum SPEARES, Patty*; JOHNSTON, Carol; Auburn University pas0004@auburn.edu

Social cues have been shown to regulate steroid hormones, and therefore ultimately affect behaviors critical to survival and reproduction in many organisms. Interactions between vocalizations, hormones, and behavior have been well studied in birds, amphibians and some species of fishes. There are still many questions that remain, however, regarding the effect of playback vocalizations on hormone levels in fishes. It is known that playbacks of male vocalizations can affect hormone levels in male fishes, when examined in concert with other behaviors. What effect playback vocalizations have on males independent of these behaviors and how these vocalizations affect female hormone levels has not been investigated. This presentation will discuss the behavioral and hormonal responses to acoustic vocalizations in the fringed darter, Etheostoma crossopterum. Darters are small benthic fish that adopt a reproductive strategy in which a male establishes a nest cavity and recruits multiple females to lay eggs within his shelter. These nest guarding males have been shown to be vocal and acoustic communication is thought to be critical in allowing these males to recruit females (courtship vocalizations) and also ward off other males (aggressive vocalizations). Recordings made from males in aggressive and courtship interactions will be used as playbacks for both male and female fish. Behaviors and hormonal responses of the fish in response to these playbacks will be discussed, as well as the methodology for obtaining the hormone data using water collection methods.