Swim bladder resonance enhances hearing in crucian carp (Carassius auratus)

Abstract

Sound sensing is vital for fish and more effort is necessary to address the hearing mechanism in fish. Here, we performed auditory evoked potentials (AEP) measurement, micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) scanning, and numerical simulation to investigate the resonance of swim bladder and its influence on auditory sensitivity in crucian carp (Carassius auratus). The AEP results showed that at the tested frequency range up to 1000 Hz, the mean auditory thresholds of control fishes with an intact swim bladder were lower than that of treated fishes with a deflated swim bladder by 0.38–30.52 dB re 1 μPa. At the high frequency end, control fishes had a high but measurable auditory threshold. Correspondingly, numerical simulations showed that the intact swim bladder had a mean resonance frequency of 826±13.6 Hz, ranging from 810 to 840 Hz while the deflated swim bladder had no predominant resonance peak below 1000 Hz. The amplitude of received sound pressure at the resonance frequency for a sample in control group was 34.3 dB re 1 μPa higher than that for a treated sample, and the acceleration at the asteriscus of the control fish was higher than the treat fish by 43.13 dB re 1 m s-2. Both AEP experiment and modeling results showed that hearing sensitivity is enhanced through resonance of swim bladder in crucian carp and provided additional understandings on hearing mechanism in fish.

Finite element modelling of sound transmission in the Weberian apparatus of zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

“…The ability to sense sound pressure in fish has been linked to the presence of gas bladders and air bubbles [ 73 ]. The size of gas bladder may affect hearing [ 36 ], and the resonance frequency may contribute to hearing sensitivity [ 74 ]. Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that these gas-filled organs in fish serve as acoustic transformers, converting sound pressure into particle motion.…”