Acoustic signaling in fish: Does it contribute to increased fitness?

Abstract

Animals often use acoustic signals when competing for limited resources. However, knowledge on how vocal behavior contributes to individual fitness in fish lags considerably behind that for terrestrial taxa. Here, I provide examples on how fish acoustic signals may confer an advantage in gaining access to food and mates. Fish sounds provide information on fish motivation and quality which is relevant for mutual assessment during agonistic interactions, such as competitive feeding, and during mate choice. Fish sounds also play a role in synchronizing the reproductive behavior and gamete release to maximize external fertilization. Considering that anthropogenic noise is increasingly changing the natural soundscape that have shaped fish acoustic signals, there is an urgent demand to better understand the importance of acoustic communication for fish survival and fitness.