@article{PaulMamonekeneVateretal.2015,
  author    = {Paul, Christiane and Mamonekene, Victor and Vater, Marianne and Feulner, Philine G. D. and Engelmann, Jacob and Tiedemann, Ralph and Kirschbaum, Frank},
  title     = {Comparative histology of the adult electric organ among four species of the genus Campylomormyrus (Teleostei: Mormyridae)},
  series = {Journal of comparative physiology : A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology},
  volume    = {201},
  journal   = {Journal of comparative physiology : A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {0340-7594},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00359-015-0995-6},
  pages     = {357 -- 374},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {The electric organ (EO) of weakly electric mormyrids consists of flat, disk-shaped electrocytes with distinct anterior and posterior faces. There are multiple species-characteristic patterns in the geometry of the electrocytes and their innervation. To further correlate electric organ discharge (EOD) with EO anatomy, we examined four species of the mormyrid genus Campylomormyrus possessing clearly distinct EODs. In C. compressirostris, C. numenius, and C. tshokwe, all of which display biphasic EODs, the posterior face of the electrocytes forms evaginations merging to a stalk system receiving the innervation. In C. tamandua that emits a triphasic EOD, the small stalks of the electrocyte penetrate the electrocyte anteriorly before merging on the anterior side to receive the innervation. Additional differences in electrocyte anatomy among the former three species with the same EO geometry could be associated with further characteristics of their EODs. Furthermore, in C. numenius, ontogenetic changes in EO anatomy correlate with profound changes in the EOD. In the juvenile the anterior face of the electrocyte is smooth, whereas in the adult it exhibits pronounced surface foldings. This anatomical difference, together with disparities in the degree of stalk furcation, probably contributes to the about 12 times longer EOD in the adult.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NagelKirschbaumHofmannetal.2018,
  author    = {Nagel, Rebecca and Kirschbaum, Frank and Hofmann, Volker and Engelmann, Jacob and Tiedemann, Ralph},
  title     = {Electric pulse characteristics can enable species recognition in African weakly electric fish species},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2045-2322},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41598-018-29132-z},
  pages     = {1 -- 12},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Communication is key to a wide variety of animal behaviours and multiple modalities are often involved in this exchange of information from sender to receiver. The communication of African weakly electric fish, however, is thought to be predominantly unimodal and is mediated by their electric sense, in which species-specific electric organ discharges (EODs) are generated in a context-dependent and thus variable sequence of pulse intervals (SPI). While the primary function of the electric sense is considered to be electrolocation, both of its components likely carry information regarding identity of the sender. However, a clear understanding of their contribution to species recognition is incomplete. We therefore analysed these two electrocommunication components (EOD waveform and SPI statistics) in two sympatric mormyrid Campylomormyrus species. In a set of five playback conditions, we further investigated which components may drive interspecific recognition and discrimination. While we found that both electrocommunication components are species-specific, the cues necessary for species recognition differ between the two species studied. While the EOD waveform and SPI were both necessary and sufficient for species recognition in C. compressirostris males, C. tamandua males apparently utilize other, non-electric modalities. Mapped onto a recent phylogeny, our results suggest that discrimination by electric cues alone may be an apomorphic trait evolved during a recent radiation in this taxon.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FeulnerPlathEngelmannetal.2009,
  author    = {Feulner, Philine G. D. and Plath, Martin and Engelmann, Jacob and Kirschbaum, Frank and Tiedemann, Ralph},
  title     = {Electrifying love : electric fish use species-specific discharge for mate recognition},
  issn      = {1744-9561},
  doi       = {10.1098/rsbl.2008.0566},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Mate choice is mediated by a range of sensory cues, and assortative mating based on these cues can drive reproductive isolation among diverging populations. A specific feature of mormyrid fish, the electric organ discharge (EOD), is used for electrolocation and intraspecific communication. We hypothesized that the EOD also facilitates assortative mating and ultimately promotes prezygotic reproductive isolation in African weakly electric fishes. Our behavioural experiments using live males as well as EOD playback demonstrated that female mate recognition is influenced by EOD signals and that females are attracted to EOD characteristics of conspecific males. The dual function of the EOD for both foraging and social communication (including mate recognition leading to assortative mating) underlines the importance of electric signal differentiation for the divergence of African weakly electric fishes. Thus, the EOD provides an intriguing mechanism promoting trophic divergence and reproductive isolation between two closely related Campylomormyrus species occurring in sympatry in the lower Congo rapids.},
  language  = {en}
}