Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 9, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

A new, tapered call was discovered in the Hyla crucifer repertoire with the aid of a digital processing oscilloscope. The attack transient was found to be a distinguishing characteristic between the newly discovered tapered call and other calls. Energy requirements for production of the tapered call, peep and trill were calculated and the trill was found to have a much lower energy outlay than the other calls. The implications of the lower energy expenditure in a trill are considered, and the possibility of two calls in the H. crucifer repertoire being nodes in a graded signal is discussed. / Master of Science

The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether the kappa opioid receptors modulating ultrasonic vocalizations production are located in the central and/or peripheral nervous system.

Relatively little is known about the vocal repertoire of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), and a categorization of basic call types and modifications of these call types by quantitative acoustic parameters is needed to examine acoustic variability within and among call types, to examine individuality, to determine communicative function of calls via playback, to compare species and populations, and to develop rigorous call recognition algorithms for monitoring populations. This study defines an acoustic repertoire of Asian elephants based on acoustic parameters, compares repertoire usage among groups and individuals, and validates structural distinction among call types through comparison of manual and automated classification methods. Recordings were made of captive elephants at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, OR, USA, and of domesticated elephants in Thailand. Acoustic and behavioral data were collected in a variety of social contexts and environmental noise conditions. Calls were classified using perceptual aural cues plus visual inspection of spectrograms, then acoustic features were measured, then automated classification was run. The final repertoire was defined by six basic call types (Bark, Roar, Rumble, Bark, Squeal, Squeal, and Trumpet), five call combinations and modifications with these basic calls forming their constituent parts (Roar-Rumble, Squeal-Squeak, Squeak train, Squeak-Bark, and Trumpet-Roar), and the Blow. Given the consistency of classifications results for calls from geographically and socially disparate subject groups, it seems possible that automated call detection algorithms could be developed for acoustic monitoring of Asian elephants.

The Neotropical catfish Pterygoplichthys pardalis produces a harsh stridulation sound upon manual capture. This stridulation sound is made on the abduction of the pectoral fin spine, and is accomplished by friction of a ridged dorsal condyle against a rough spinal fossa of the cleithrum in the pectoral girdle. The sound produced has an average frequency of 121 Hz, and is used with other anti-predator adaptations such as bony subdermal armor and defensive fin-spreading. Pterygoplichthys pardalis does not display behavioral modification in response to conspecific stridulation sound, and therefore it is likely that stridulation sound in P. pardalis is being used as a predator deterrent.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : [49]-50).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

No description available.