Spermiated male sea lampreys release a sex pheromone that functions as an attractant for ovulated female sea lampreys

摘要

Behavioral studies have suggested that adult sea lampreys (Petrornyzon marinus) release sex pheromones that influence the behavior of conspecifics, although the exact timing of the release and the functions of these pheromones are unknown. However, recent electrophysiological studies have shown that male sealampreys release potent odorants for conspecifics durinr spermiation. To determine whether these odorants function as a sex pheromone we observed the behavioral responses of adult sea lampreys to these odors in both laboratory and field conditions. Our results confirm that spermiated male sea lampreys release a sex pheromone that influences the behavior of ovulated female sea lampreys. When placed in a two-choice maze, ovulated females spent more time in the side of the maze containing the spermiated male odor and showed increased searching or swimming activity in response to this odor. Also, in a natural spawning stream ovulated females located and swam to cages containing spermiated males. We conclude that spermiated male sea lampreys release a sex pheromone that attracts ovulated female sea lampreys and functions to synchronize spawning behavior between ripe males and females.The Great Lakes Fishery Commission supported this study.