Summary
-
1.
The vertical movement of different parts of the perch saccular otolith was measured with a laser vibrometer during horizontal vibration of the fish back and forth along its long axis. Data were obtained at four different frequencies within the audible range of the fish. Vibration at these frequencies caused very little vertical movement of the skull.
-
2.
No vertical oscillations of the otolith were detected at 20 Hz, whereas both ends of the otolith showed vertical vibrations at 40, 90 and 220 Hz. An area of minimum vertical movement appeared around the midpoint of the otolith at these frequencies, thus indicating the existence of a horizontal axis of rotation.
-
3.
It is argued that the stimulation technique is a reasonable approximation to underwater sound exposure. The measurements thus support the idea of a coarse, peripheral frequency analysis in fish based on a frequency dependent pattern of sound induced otolith movements.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bergeijk, W.A. van: Directional and nondirectional hearing in fish. In: Marine bio-acoustics (ed. W.N. Tavolga), pp. 281–299. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1964
Buchhave, P.: Laser Doppler vibration measurements using variable frequency shift. DISA Information18, 15–20 (1975)
Chapman, C.J, Sand, O.: Field studies of hearing in two species of flatfishPleuronectes platessa (L.) andLimanda limanda (L.) (Family Pleuronectidae). Comp. Biochem. Physiol.47A, 371–385 (1974)
Dale, J.: Labyrinthine mechanoreceptor organs of the codGadus morhua L. (Teleostei:Gadidae). Norw. J. Zool.24, 85–128 (1976)
Enger, P.S.: Unit activity in the fish auditory system. Acta physiol. scand.59, Suppl. 1–48 (1963)
Enger, P.S.: On the orientation of hair cells in the labyrinth of the perch (Perca fluviatilis). In: Sound reception in fish (eds. A.D. Hawkins, A. Schuijf), pp. 49–62. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1977
Evans, E.F., Wilson, J.P.: The frequency selectivity of the cochlea. In: Basic mechanisms in hearing (ed. Aage R. Møller), pp. 519–554. New York and London: Academic Press (1973)
Furukawa, T., Ishii, Y.: Neurophysiological studies on hearing in goldfish. J. Neurophysiol.30, 1377–1403 (1967)
Hama, K.: A study on the fine structure of the saccular macula of the goldfish. Z. Zellforsch.94, 155–171 (1969)
Jørgensen, J.M.: Hair cell polarization in the flatfish inner ear. Acta Zool. (Stockh.)57, 37–39 (1976)
Lowenstein, O., Roberts, T.D.M.: The localization and analysis of the responses to vibration from the isolated elasmobranch labyrinth. A contribution to the problem of the evolution of hearing in vertebrates. J. Physiol. Lond.114, 471–489 (1951)
Michelsen, A., Larsen, O.N.: Biophysics of the ensiferan ear. I. Tympanal vibrations in bushcrickets (Tettigoniidae), studied with laser vibrometry. J. comp. Physiol., in press (1978)
Popper, A.N.: Ultrastructure of the auditory regions in the inner ear of the lake whitefish. Science192, 1020–1023 (1976)
Sand, O.: Directional sensitivity of microphonic potentials from the perch ear. J. exp. Biol.60, 881–899 (1974a)
Sand, O.: Recordings of saccular microphonic potentials in the perch. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.47A, 387–390 (1974b)
Sand, O., Enger, P.S.: Evidence for an auditory function of the swimbladder in the cod. J. exp. Biol.59, 405–414 (1973)
Sand, O., Enger, P.S.: Possible mechanisms for directional hearing and pitch discrimination in fish. In: Mechanoreception (ed. J. Schwartzkopff), pp. 223–242. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag 1974
Stylis, S.C.: A working theory on the mechanism of hearing. J. Laryngol. Otol.85, 481–491 (1971)
Vries, H. de: The mechanics of the labyrinth otoliths. Acta Otolaryng.38, 262–273 (1950)
Wersäll, J., Flock, Å., Lundquist, P.G.: Structural basis for directional sensitivity of cochlear and vestibular sensory receptors. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol.30, 115–132 (1965)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are grateful to Dr. Leland G. Johnson for comments on the manuscript. The work was supported by NATO and the Danish Natural Science Research Council.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sand, O., Michelsen, A. Vibration measurements of the perch saccular otolith. J. Comp. Physiol. 123, 85–89 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00657346
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00657346