MSI Public Lecture Series

Contrary to popular belief, the ocean is not a silent world. Many of us are familiar with the sounds produced by whales but many other kinds of marine creatures produce sounds as well. Many species of fish are quite vocal and these vocalizations are produced in a variety of contexts but we know relatively little about the vocal repertoire of most species or the specific functions of the calls. Several groups of fishes (including the drums, cods, and damselfishes), however, have distinctive vocalizations that are clearly related to reproductive activities. In this presentation I will provide a brief review of some physical aspects of sound relevant to fish studies, discuss some aspects of sound production and reception by fishes, and present some results of our work with red drum in the western Gulf of Mexico. The presentation will include a sampling of the courtship sounds produced by these fishes.
 

The free lecture will be held at 7 p.m. in the Visitor Center of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, and the public is invited to attend.