Abstract
Himé salmon (landlocked red salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka) have an elaborate communication system, which ensures synchronous spawning by both sexes and successful fertilization. Both the vibrational and visual signals have been suggested to be involved in this communication system. To characterize these signals, vibrating or stationary three-dimensional models of various types were presented to the male, and male behavior elicited was examined. The results showed that the vibrating model mimicking certain aspects of the female behavior (‘prespawning act’) elicits the spawning in the male (Figs. 2, 3, 5). Furthermore, it was found that (1) the presence of both the vibrational and visual cues (Figs. 6, 7), and (2) spatial coincidence of these two cues (Fig. 8) are necessary for eliciting this behavior. Based on these results it was supposed that the vibrational and visual informations converge at the central nervous system where they are integrated to elicit the spawning.
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Satou, M., Takeuchi, HA., Takei, K. et al. Characterization of vibrational and visual signals which elicit spawning behavior in the male himé salmon (landlocked red salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka). J Comp Physiol A 174, 527–537 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00217372
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00217372