Pheromone Communication in Sea Lampreys (Petromyzon marinus): Implications for Population Management

Abstract

The results of recent preference tests indicate that both male and female landlocked sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus), after reaching a specific stage of sexual maturation, release pheromones which attract conspecifics of the opposite sex. In addition, sexually immature males, captured at the beginning of a spawning migration, exhibit a preference for water in which sea lamprey larvae have been held, suggesting that chemical signals, originating from populations of sea lamprey larvae in a river, may aid migrating adults in selecting a suitable spawning stream. The possible influence of a number of environmental and physiological factors on pheromone communication in sea lampreys is discussed. Synthetic pheromones have been utilized in insect pest management programs as lures for mass-trapping one or both sexes and for disrupting normal pheromone communication. Similar strategies may be applicable in an integrated program of sea lamprey population management.Key words: pheromones, reproduction, spawning migration, sea lampreys, population management, preference behavior