Small fish, large variation: Morphological diversity of Weberian apparatus in Noturus catfishes and ecological implications

Abstract

The Weberian apparatus is a hearing specialization unique to the otophysan fishes, and an unexpected degree of morphological variation exists in species of the Noturus catfishes. Our aim in this study is to investigate relationships between morphological variations and ecology that may drive this variation. Sampling 48 specimens representing 25 species, we investigated morphological diversity and accounted for ecological variables using landmark-based 3D geometric morphometrics and x-ray-based computed tomography (CT) images. We tested five ecological variables using three landmark sets in three focused regions: the tripus, scaphium, and overall shape of the peripheral structures including the complex vertebra. We performed phylogenetic signal tests, and phylogenetic influence is not significant within Noturus in any of the three regions. Among the tested ecological variables, stream velocity and coloration (a proxy for substrate) were found to be significantly associated with the morphology of the tripus and scaphium, the first and the last ossicles of the sound transmitting chain. This eco-morphology connection may be mediated through stream velocity's dominant role in defining the soundscape of aquatic environments and substrate material properties contributing to which sounds are produced and propagated. We conclude that Noturus catfishes could be acoustically adapted to their microhabitats.