scholarly journals Wing, tail, and vocal contributions to the complex acoustic signals of courting Calliope hummingbirds

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher James Clark
Keyword(s):  
Sound Production ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Signals ◽  
Wingbeat Frequency ◽  
Physical Mechanisms ◽  
Frequency Tone ◽  
Single Mechanism ◽  
Sound Pulses ◽  
Stellula Calliope ◽  
Courtship Displays

Abstract Multi-component signals contain multiple signal parts expressed in the same physical modality. One way to identify individual components is if they are produced by different physical mechanisms. Here, I studied the mechanisms generating acoustic signals in the courtship displays of the Calliope hummingbird Stellula calliope. Display dives consisted of three synchronized sound elements, a high-frequency tone (hft), a low frequency tone (lft), and atonal sound pulses (asp), which were then followed by a frequency-modulated fall. Manipulating any of the rectrices (tail-feathers) of wild males impaired production of the lft and asp but not the hft or fall, which are apparently vocal. I tested the sound production capabilities of the rectrices in a wind tunnel. Single rectrices could generate the lft but not the asp, whereas multiple rectrices tested together produced sounds similar to the asp when they fluttered and collided with their neighbors percussively, representing a previously unknown mechanism of sound production. During the shuttle display, a trill is generated by the wings during pulses in which the wingbeat frequency is elevated to 95 Hz, 40% higher than the typical hovering wingbeat frequency. The Calliope hummingbird courtship displays include sounds produced by three independent mechanisms, and thus include a minimum of three acoustic signal components. These acoustic mechanisms have different constraints and thus potentially contain different messages. Producing multiple acoustic signals via multiple mechanisms may be a way to escape the constraints present in any single mechanism.

Acoustics of Sound Production and of Hearing in the Bladder Cicada Cystosoma Saundersii (Westwood)

1978 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.H. FLETCHER ◽  
K. G. HILL
Keyword(s):  
Sound Production ◽  
Abdominal Cavity ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sound Intensity ◽  
Electrical Network ◽  
Directional Hearing ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Physical Mechanisms ◽  
Radiated Sound ◽  
Song Frequency

The male cicada of the species Cystosoma saundersii has a grossly enlarged, hollow abdomen and emits a loud calling song with a fundamental frequency of about 800 Hz. At the song frequency, its hearing is nondirectional. The female of C. saundersii lacks sound producing organs, has no enlargement of the abdomen, but possesses an abdominal air sac and has well developed directional hearing at the frequency of the species' song. Physical mechanisms are proposed that explain these observations in semi-quantitative detail using the standard method of electrical network analogues. The abdomen in the male, with its enclosed air, is found to act as a system resonant at the song frequency, thus contributing a large gain in radiated sound intensity. Coupling between this resonator and the auditory tympana accounts for the observed hearing sensitivity in the male, but destroys directionality. In the female, the abdominal cavity acts in association with the two auditory tympana as part of a phase shift network which results in appreciable directionality of hearing at the unusually low frequency of the male song.

scholarly journals A MODEL OF THE MECHANISM OF SOUND PRODUCTION IN CICADAS

1992 ◽  
Vol 173 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Bennet-Clark ◽  
D. Young
Keyword(s):  
Resonant Frequency ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Abdominal Cavity ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Helmholtz Resonator ◽  
Sound Pulse ◽  
Song Frequency ◽  
Resonator System ◽  
Sound Pulses

1. Dried cicada bodies of the species Cyclochila australasiae and model cicadas made from a miniature earphone driving a plastic cavity were used to study the acoustics of sound production in male cicadas. 2. A model cicada with shape and dimensions similar to those of the abdomen of a male C. australasiae resonates at the natural song frequency of the species (4.3 kHz). The abdominal air sac of C. australasiae also resonates at frequencies close to the natural song frequency when excited by external sounds. In an atmosphere of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gas, the resonant frequency is lowered in keeping with the decrease in velocity of sound in the CFC gas. 3. At the model's resonant frequency, the driving earphone dissipates more electrical power with the cavity attached than without the cavity. The cavity of the model cicada acts as a narrow-band acoustic acceptance filter, tuned to the natural song frequency. 4. When the miniature earphone emits brief clicks, mimicking those produced by the natural tymbal mechanism, the model cicada produces sound pulses that vary in duration and shape according to the number and timing of the clicks. A coherent train of two or three resonant clicks results in a long slowly-decaying sound pulse similar to that in the natural song. 5. The natural song frequency can be predicted from the dimensions of the abdominal cavity and the tympana in C. australasiae using a simple equation for the resonant frequency of a Helmholtz resonator. This equation also predicts the song frequency of Macrotristria angularis and Magicicada cassini, but it fails with the low-frequency song of Magicicada septendecim. This discrepancy can be accounted for by the unusually thick tympana of M. septendecim, which tend to lower the resonant frequency of the system. 6. We conclude that the abdomen of male cicadas forms a Helmholtz resonator, the components of which are the large air sac as the cavity and the tympana as the neck of the resonator. We suggest that cicada sound production depends on the coupling of two resonators, that of the tymbal and that of the abdominal air sac, from which sound is radiated through the tympana. The coupled resonator system would produce the long sound pulses required for stimulating a sensitive sharply tuned auditory organ.

Fish Attraction with Pulsed Low-Frequency Sound

1968 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1441-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph D. Richard
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Stimulus ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Acoustic Signals ◽  
Commercial Fisheries ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Predatory Fishes ◽  
Underwater Television

A series of tests were conducted to determine the effectiveness of pulsed low-frequency acoustic signals for attracting fishes. The acoustic signals were contrived to simulate the hydrodynamically generated disturbances normally associated with active predation. Underwater television was used to observe fish arrivals during both control and test periods. Demersal predatory fishes were successfully attracted although they habituated rapidly to the acoustic stimulus. Members of the families Serranidae, Lutjanidae, and Pomadasyidae were particularly well represented among the fishes attracted. Sharks were also attracted in considerable numbers. Herbivorous reef fishes, although common around the test site, were not attracted. Possible relationships between the test results and the hearing capabilities of fishes are discussed. It is concluded that acoustic attraction techniques have potential applications in certain existing commercial fisheries.

Auditory Brainstem Responses to Middle- and Low-Frequency Tone Pips

1984 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Maurizi ◽  
G. Paludetti ◽  
F. Ottaviani ◽  
M. Rosignoli
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Frequency Tone

Ceiling Construction Low-Frequency Noise Issues

2013 ◽  
Vol 649 ◽  
pp. 277-280
Author(s):  
Petra Berková ◽  
Pavel Berka
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sound Insulation ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Low Frequency Noise ◽  
Frequency Tone ◽  
The Impact ◽  
40 Hz

Through the use of a spectral analysis of the source of noise – person’s movement over the ceiling construction – it was found out that in this kind of noise distinctive low-frequency tone components occur (31,5 - 40 Hz) which is beyond the evaluation area of the impact sound insulation of the ceiling construction, s. [2], [3].

scholarly journals Strong earthquakes can be predicted: a multidisciplinary method for strong earthquake prediction

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 703-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Z. Li ◽  
Z. Q. Bai ◽  
W. S. Chen ◽  
Y. Q. Xia ◽  
Y. R. Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Earthquake Prediction ◽  
Strong Earthquake ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Strong Earthquakes ◽  
Physical Mechanisms ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
The World ◽  
Infrasonic Wave

Abstract. The imminent prediction on a group of strong earthquakes that occurred in Xinjiang, China in April 1997 is introduced in detail. The prediction was made on the basis of comprehensive analyses on the results obtained by multiple innovative methods including measurements of crustal stress, observation of infrasonic wave in an ultra low frequency range, and recording of abnormal behavior of certain animals. Other successful examples of prediction are also enumerated. The statistics shows that above 40% of 20 total predictions jointly presented by J. Z. Li, Z. Q. Ren and others since 1995 can be regarded as effective. With the above methods, precursors of almost every strong earthquake around the world that occurred in recent years were recorded in our laboratory. However, the physical mechanisms of the observed precursors are yet impossible to explain at this stage.

scholarly journals Songbirds use pulse tone register in two voices to generate low-frequency sound

2007 ◽  
Vol 274 (1626) ◽  
pp. 2703-2710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth K Jensen ◽  
Brenton G Cooper ◽  
Ole N Larsen ◽  
Franz Goller
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Pulse Generation ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Pulse Tone ◽  
Vocal Fold Dynamics ◽  
Vibration Pattern ◽  
Pulse Characteristics ◽  
Two Sides

The principal physical mechanism of sound generation is similar in songbirds and humans, despite large differences in their vocal organs. Whereas vocal fold dynamics in the human larynx are well characterized, the vibratory behaviour of the sound-generating labia in the songbird vocal organ, the syrinx, is unknown. We present the first high-speed video records of the intact syrinx during induced phonation. The syrinx of anaesthetized crows shows a vibration pattern of the labia similar to that of the human vocal fry register. Acoustic pulses result from short opening of the labia, and pulse generation alternates between the left and right sound sources. Spontaneously calling crows can also generate similar pulse characteristics with only one sound generator. Airflow recordings in zebra finches and starlings show that pulse tone sounds can be generated unilaterally, synchronously or by alternating between the two sides. Vocal fry-like dynamics therefore represent a common production mechanism for low-frequency sounds in songbirds. These results also illustrate that complex vibration patterns can emerge from the mechanical properties of the coupled sound generators in the syrinx. The use of vocal fry-like dynamics in the songbird syrinx extends the similarity to this unusual vocal register with mammalian sound production mechanisms.

Body Temperature and Singing in the Bladder Cicada, Cystosoma Saundersii

1979 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. JOSEPHSON ◽  
D. YOUNG
Keyword(s):  
Heat Production ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Marked Decrease ◽  
Cooling Curve ◽  
Muscle Twitch ◽  
Temperature Excess ◽  
Air Mixing ◽  
Artificial Heat ◽  
Sound Pulses

1. Body temperatures during singing were measured in the cicada, Cystosoma saundersii Westwood, both in the field and in tethered animals indoors. 2. The temperature of the sound-producing tymbal muscle rises rapidly during singing to reach a plateau approximately 12°C above ambient. This produces a temperature gradient in the abdominal air sac which surrounds the muscle. When singing stops, the tymbal muscle cools exponentially. 3. Heat production during singing, estimated from the cooling curve, is 4.82 cal min−1 g muscle−1. Generation of the same temperature excess in the air sac by an artificial heat source yields an estimated heat production of 54.4 cal min−1 g muscle−1. This discrepancy may be caused by air mixing in the air sac during singing. 4. As temperature rises, tymbal muscle twitch contractions become faster and stronger. This and heat transfer to the thorax cause changes in the song pattern: a marked decrease in the interval between the two sound pulses produced by a single tymbal buckling and a lesser decrease in the interval between bucklings. The fundamental sound period remains unaltered. These effects are consistent with earlier data on sound production. Note: Present address: Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California 92717, U.S.A.

scholarly journals Cochlear compound action potentials from high-level tone bursts originate from wide cochlear regions that are offset toward the most sensitive cochlear region

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 1018-1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lee ◽  
J. J. Guinan ◽  
M. A. Rutherford ◽  
W. A. Kaf ◽  
K. M. Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Tuning Curve ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Frequency Tone ◽  
Compound Action Potentials ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Tone ◽  
Compound Action

Little is known about the spatial origins of auditory nerve (AN) compound action potentials (CAPs) evoked by moderate to intense sounds. We studied the spatial origins of AN CAPs evoked by 2- to 16-kHz tone bursts at several sound levels by slowly injecting kainic acid solution into the cochlear apex of anesthetized guinea pigs. As the solution flowed from apex to base, it sequentially reduced CAP responses from low- to high-frequency cochlear regions. The times at which CAPs were reduced, combined with the cochlear location traversed by the solution at that time, showed the cochlear origin of the removed CAP component. For low-level tone bursts, the CAP origin along the cochlea was centered at the characteristic frequency (CF). As sound level increased, the CAP center shifted basally for low-frequency tone bursts but apically for high-frequency tone bursts. The apical shift was surprising because it is opposite the shift expected from AN tuning curve and basilar membrane motion asymmetries. For almost all high-level tone bursts, CAP spatial origins extended over 2 octaves along the cochlea. Surprisingly, CAPs evoked by high-level low-frequency (including 2 kHz) tone bursts showed little CAP contribution from CF regions ≤ 2 kHz. Our results can be mostly explained by spectral splatter from the tone-burst rise times, excitation in AN tuning-curve “tails,” and asynchronous AN responses to high-level energy ≤ 2 kHz. This is the first time CAP origins have been identified by a spatially specific technique. Our results show the need for revising the interpretation of the cochlear origins of high-level CAPs-ABR wave 1. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cochlear compound action potentials (CAPs) and auditory brain stem responses (ABRs) are routinely used in laboratories and clinics. They are typically interpreted as arising from the cochlear region tuned to the stimulus frequency. However, as sound level is increased, the cochlear origins of CAPs from tone bursts of all frequencies become very wide and their centers shift toward the most sensitive cochlear region. The standard interpretation of CAPs and ABRs from moderate to intense stimuli needs revision.

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