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First use of acoustic calls to distinguish cryptic members of a fish species complex
Parmentier, E.; Scalbert, R.; Raick, X.; Gache, C.; Frédérich, B.; Bertucci, F.; Lecchini, D. (2022). First use of acoustic calls to distinguish cryptic members of a fish species complex. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 195(3): 964-975. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab056
In: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Academic Press: London. ISSN 0024-4082; e-ISSN 1096-3642, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Pomacentridae Bonaparte, 1831 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    bioacoustics, biodiversity, biogeography, communication, Pomacentridae, sibling species

Authors  Top 
  • Parmentier, E., more
  • Scalbert, R., more
  • Raick, X., more
  • Gache, C.
  • Frédérich, B., more
  • Bertucci, F., more
  • Lecchini, D.

Abstract
    Although molecular methods and bioacoustical analysis have been used to uncover cryptic species, the combination of both methodologies is still rare. The humbug damselfish complex, Dascyllus aruanus, is composed of at least two species with Dascyllus aruanus in the Pacific Ocean and Dascyllus abudafur in the Indian Ocean. However, genetic data suggest that additional species could be found. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether the sounds produced by different populations of fish could help to distinguish cryptic species. Recordings of chase and courtship sounds were made on humbug damselfish populations from Madagascar, Taiwan and French Polynesia. Chase sound features are more variable than courtship sounds, suggesting more constraints on courtship sounds, since they would contribute to premating isolation. Comparison between courtship sounds show the variation in acoustic features between Taiwan and Madagascar align with genetic differences, supporting that sounds could discriminate cryptic species in Teleosts. Moreover, differences in both acoustic features and genetic data are also found between Taiwan and French Polynesia, suggesting two clearly distinct populations. Consequently, the name D. emamo can be resurrected for the Polynesian humbug damselfish. External phenotype traits do not allow the distinction between populations, illustrating that only behaviour has been modified.

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