Pheromones in Marine Fish with Comments on Their Possible Use in Aquaculture

Olfactory sensitivity of the marine flatfishSolea senegalensisto conspecific body fluids

“…However, the chemical identity and exact biological roles of such pheromones have been clearly demonstrated only in a few freshwater species, such as the goldfish (Carassius auratus; Dulka et al, 1987;Sorensen et al, 1988), masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou; Yambe et al, 2006) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus; Keller-Costa et al, 2014). Marine fish have received much less attention (Hubbard, 2015); the black goby (Gobius niger) is the only example wherein the chemical identity of a pheromone is known (Colombo et al, 1980). This is surprising given the economic importance of many marine species, both wild-caught and in aquaculture.…”

Reproduction, olfaction and dominance behaviour in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

“…Little is known about the exact cause of the behavioural failure or possible controlling mechanisms such as chemical communication. The relationship between olfaction, behaviour and reproduction has been demonstrated in a few species (Hubbard, 2014) and the association of these aspects with the ecology and biology has improved aquaculture (Huntingford, 1993;Conrad et al, 2011) to highlight that research in these areas could be useful to solve reproductive behavioural problems and improve Senegalese sole farming. Consequently, the present thesis (Chapters 2 to 7) contributed to why Senegalese sole life cycle is not currently completely close in captive conditions from different perspectives.…”

“…The hormone, 17, 20ß-P or maturation inducing steroid (MIS) was also found to induce maturation in a marine flatfish species, plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), which accumulated MIS in urine indicating that the species may use urine as a vehicle to release steroid pheromones that were synthesized by the gonads (Canario and Scott, 1989). Actually a wide range of substances have been suggested (but few have been demonstrated) as reproductive pheromones that are excreted by fish to the environment such as bile salts Zhang et al, 2001;Li et al, 2002;Huertas et al, 2007), steroid molecules (Barata et al, 2008) and prostaglandins (Velez et al, 2009;Hubbard, 2014) which might be released with different fluids (urine, faeces, mucus) acting as messengers to conspecifics.…”

“…The relationship between olfaction and reproductive behaviour has also been assessed and demonstrated in several fish species and probably exits in most species (Hubbard, 2014). Fish use chemical cues through olfaction to find a companion ready for spawning, regulate the physiological responses, and for synchronization between the population, such as goldfish, masu salmon, zebrafish, brown trout, rainbow trout, Mozambique tilapia, among others .…”

“…However, the chemical identity and exact biological roles of such pheromones have been clearly demonstrated only in a few fresh-water species such as the goldfish (Carassius auratus; Sorensen et al, 1988), masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou; Yambe et al, 2006) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus; Keller-Costa et al, 2014). Marine fish have received much less attention (Hubbard, 2015); the black goby (Gobius niger) is the only example wherein the chemical identity of a pheromone is known (Colombo et al, 1980). Urine is a common vehicle for pheromones (Wyatt, 2014); however, urine production is much lower in marine fish than freshwater fish, so other body fluids, such as intestinal fluid (Hubbard et al, 2003) or mucus (Huertas et al, 2007), may be involved.…”