RAQUEL VASCONCELOS
PhD student

E-mail: rfvasconcelos@fc.ul.pt
Phone: + 351 21 8811700 (ext. 320)
Fax: + 351 21 8860954

Curriculum vitae

Eco-ethology and acoustic communication in fish
- Courtship and agonistic interactions
- Individual discrimination and chorusing behaviour
- Behavioural changes during ontogeny

I am presently working on my PhD project with Maria Clara Amorim from ISPA, Paulo Fonseca from CBA-FCUL, Friedrich Ladich from the University of Vienna (Austria) and Joseph Sisneros from the University of Washington (USA).

My research focuses on hearing abilities and acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus). This project covers the study of (1) mating call individuality; (2) influence of vocal behaviour in mate attraction and reproductive success; (3) ability to detect temporal patterns and encode conspecific vocalizations; and (4) seasonal effects on auditory sensitivity. My experimental work consists mostly of sound recordings and playback experiments in the field (Tagus estuary, Portugal), as well as measurements of hearing thresholds by using either the AEP (Auditory Evoked Potential) technique or evoked potentials determined directly from the inner ear saccule in the toadfish.
I am also interested in analyzing the influence of anthropogenic noise (particularly from shipping) on calling emission rate and its impact on the detection of conspecific vocalizations in this species.

Funded by: FCT - SFRH/BD/30491/2006

:: Publications

Vasconcelos, R.O., P.J. Fonseca, M.C.P. Amorim & F. Ladich. 2010. Representation of complex vocalizations in the Lusitanian toadfish auditory system: evidence of fine temporal, frequency and amplitude discrimination. Proc. R. Soc. B (online first) doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.1376

Vasconcelos, R. O., Simões, J. M., Almada, V. C., Fonseca, P. J. & Amorim, M. C. P. 2010. Vocal behaviour during territorial intrusions in the Lusitanian toadfish: boatwhistles also function as territorial ‘keep-out’ signals. Ethology 116: 155-165. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2009.01722.x

Amorim, M. C. P., Vasconcelos, R. O. & Parreira, B. 2009. Variability in the sonic muscles of the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus): acoustic signals may reflect individual quality. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87: 718-725.

Vasconcelos, R. O. & Amorim, M. C. P. 2009.Toadfish acoustic communication. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom - Global Marine Environment 9: 11.

Amorim, M. C. P. & Vasconcelos, R. O. 2008. Variability in the mating calls of the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus: potential cues for individual recognition. Journal of Fish Biology 72: 1355-1368.

Vasconcelos, R. O. & Ladich, F. 2008. Development of vocalization, auditory sensitivity and acoustic communication in the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus. Journal of Experimental Biology 211: 502-509. (Inside JEB note)

Vasconcelos, R. O., Amorim, M. C. P. & F. Ladich. 2007. Effects of Ship Noise on the detectability of communication signals in the in the Lusitanian Toadfish. J. Exp. Biol. 210: 2104-2112. (Inside JEB note)

Amorim, M. C. P., R. O. Vasconcelos, J. F. Marques & F. Almada. 2006. Seasonal variation of sound production in the Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus. J. Fish Biol. 69: 1892-1899.