scholarly journals A pheromone outweighs temperature in influencing migration of sea lamprey

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 150009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory O. Brant ◽  
Ke Li ◽  
Nicholas S. Johnson ◽  
Weiming Li

Organisms continuously acquire and process information from surrounding cues. While some cues complement one another in delivering more reliable information, others may provide conflicting information. How organisms extract and use reliable information from a multitude of cues is largely unknown. We examined movement decisions of sea lampreys ( Petromyzon marinus L.) exposed to a conspecific and an environmental cue during pre-spawning migration. Specifically, we predicted that the mature male-released sex pheromone 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate (3kPZS) will outweigh the locomotor inhibiting effects of cold stream temperature (less than 15°C). Using large-scale stream bioassays, we found that 3kPZS elicits an increase (more than 40%) in upstream movement of pre-spawning lampreys when the water temperatures were below 15°C. Both warming temperatures and conspecific cues increase upstream movement when the water temperature rose above 15°C. These patterns define an interaction between abiotic and conspecific cues in modulating animal decision-making, providing an example of the hierarchy of contradictory information.

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1989-2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Everett Louis King Jr.

Criteria for the classification of marks inflicted by sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) into nine categories were developed from laboratory studies in an attempt to refine the classification system used in field assessment work. These criteria were based on characteristics of the attachment site that could be identified under field conditions by unaided visual means and by touching the attachment site. Healing of these marks was somewhat variable and was influenced by the size of lamprey, duration of attachment, severity of the wound at lamprey detachment, season and water temperature, and by other less obvious factors. Even under laboratory conditions staging of some wounds was difficult, especially at low water temperatures. If these criteria are to be used effectively and with precision in the field, close examination of individual fish may be required. If the feeding and density of specific year-classes of sea lampreys are to be accurately assessed on an annual basis, close attention to the wound size (as it reflects the size of the lamprey's oral disc) and character of wounds on fish will be required as well as consideration of the season of the year in which they are observed.Key words: sea lamprey, attack marks, lake trout, Great Lakes


1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1257-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. Bergstedt ◽  
William D. Swink

We used lengths and weights of 2367 live parasitic-phase sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) collected from Lake Huron, 1984–1990, to calculate their mean size at half-month intervals. Growth in weight was linear during June through September; increments averaged 11.1 g per half month. Growth increased sharply in October to several times the summer rate. We speculate that the increase in growth in October is explained partly by water temperature and partly by an increase in appetite related to the onset of gonadal development. The greater compression of biomass accumulation in autumn than has been previously demonstrated better explains the autumn pulse of sea lamprey induced host mortality. Based on the seasonal pattern of growth and on recaptures of marked sea lampreys, we conclude that landlocked individuals grow to adult size and mature in one parasitic growth year. Regressions of weight (grams) on total length (millimetres) differed significantly among months, and the season of collection must be considered in predicting weight from length.


2021 ◽  
pp. jeb.229476
Author(s):  
Yu-Wen Chung-Davidson ◽  
Ugo Bussy ◽  
Skye D. Fissette ◽  
Anne M. Scott ◽  
Weiming Li

Pheromonal bile salts are important for sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus) to complete their life cycle. The synthesis and release of a releaser/primer pheromone 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate (3kPZS) by spermiating males have been well characterized. 3kPZS evokes sexual behaviors in ovulatory females, induces immediate 3kPZS release in spermiating males, and elicits neuroendocrine responses in prespawning adults. Another primer pheromone released by spermiating males, 3-keto allocholic acid (3kACA), antagonizes the neuroendocrine effects of 3kPZS in prespermiating males. However, the effects of 3kACA and 3kPZS on pheromone production in prespawning adults is unclear. To understand the foundation of pheromone production, we examined sea lamprey bile salt levels at different life stages. To investigate the priming effects of 3kACA and 3kPZS, we exposed prespawning adults with vehicle or synthetic 3kACA or 3kPZS. We hypothesized that endogenous bile salt levels were life-stage and sex-dependent, and differentially affected by 3kACA and 3kPZS in prespawning adults. Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we found that sea lampreys contained distinct mixtures of bile salts in the liver and plasma at different life stages. Males usually contained higher amounts of bile salts than females. Petromyzonamine disulfate was the most abundant C27 bile salt and petromyzonol sulfate was the most abundant C24 bile salt. Waterborne 3kACA and 3kPZS exerted differential effects on bile salt production in the liver and gill, their circulation and clearance in the plasma, and their release into water. We conclude that bile salt levels are life-stage and sex-dependent and differentially affected by primer pheromones.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Waldman ◽  
Cheryl Grunwald ◽  
Isaac Wirgin

Anadromous fishes are believed to make regular circuits of migration in the sea before homing to their natal rivers. Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus is an anadromous fish that is an exception to this life-history pattern. It also differs from other anadromous fishes in that its adult phase is parasitic, a feeding strategy that should make homing problematic for lamprey cohorts that become widely dispersed through transport by the diverse hosts they parasitize. We sequenced a portion of the mitochondrial DNA control region from sea lampreys collected from 11 North American east coast rivers to test for genetic evidence of homing. There were no significant differences ( Χ 2 =235.1, p =0.401) in haplotype frequencies among them, with almost 99 per cent of haplotypic diversity occurring within populations. These findings, together with concordant genetic results from other geographical regions and ancillary information on pheromonal communication, suggest that sea lamprey does not home but rather exhibits regional panmixia while using a novel ‘suitable river’ strategy to complete its life cycle.


2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lance A. Vrieze ◽  
Roger A. Bergstedt ◽  
Peter W. Sorensen

Stream-finding behavior of adult sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ), an anadromous fish that relies on pheromones to locate spawning streams, was documented in the vicinity of an important spawning river in the Great Lakes. Untreated and anosmic migrating sea lampreys were implanted with acoustic transmitters and then released outside the Ocqueoc River. Lampreys swam only at night and then actively. When outside of the river plume, lampreys pursued relatively straight bearings parallel to the shoreline while making frequent vertical excursions. In contrast, when within the plume, lampreys made large turns and exhibited a weak bias towards the river mouth, which one-third of them entered. The behavior of anosmic lampreys resembled that of untreated lampreys outside of the plume, except they pursued a more northerly compass bearing. To locate streams, sea lampreys appear to employ a three-phase odor-mediated strategy that involves an initial search along shorelines while casting vertically, followed by river-water-induced turning that brings them close to the river’s mouth, which they then enter using rheotaxis. This novel strategy differs from that of salmonids and appears to offer this poor swimmer adaptive flexibility and suggests ways that pheromonal odors might be used to manage this invasive species.


1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. C. Potter ◽  
G. M. Wright ◽  
J. H. Youson

A study has been made of metamorphosis in anadromous sea lampreys in New Brunswick between 1973 and 1976. The stages (1–7) commence with the recently described 'prometamorphic ammocoete' (Youson, J. H., G. M. Wright, and E. C. Ooi. 1977. The timing of changes in several internal organs during metamorphosis of anadromous larval lamprey Petromyzon marinus L. Can. J. Zool. 55: 469–473.) and conclude with one similar to the newly metamorphosed landlocked sea lamprey (Manion, P. J., and T. M. Stauffer. 1970. Metamorphosis of the landlocked sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 27: 1735–1746.). Most of the marked quantitative changes exhibited by certain regions of the body can be directly related to adaptations for suctorial feeding, increased activity, and a predaceous mode of life. Reductions in the prebranchial length are almost certainly associated with changes in the pharyngeal basket which facilitate alterations in the direction of the respiratory water flow. The timing of metamorphosis was remarkably synchronous both within and between years, representatives of the earliest stages (1–2) being found only between July 7 and 28 while after September 14 only stage 7 animals were caught. During metamorphosis the lengths of the animals changed little whereas their weights declined significantly. The weights and condition factors of stage 1–2 animals were significantly greater than those of larvae of comparable length. This feature, presumably related to lipid accumulation at the end of larval life, is discussed in the context of factors influencing the onset of metamorphosis.


1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. C. Potter ◽  
F. W. H. Beamish ◽  
B. G. H. Johnson

The mean lengths of adult males and females of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) migrating into the Humber River from Lake Ontario in each of the years 1968–1972 varied little, and were similar to those found by other workers in recently established populations in the upper lakes. In contrast, the ratio of males to females, which lay within the narrow range of 1:1 to 1.26:1, was similar to those reported for long-established populations.


1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1886-1894 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. H. Dahl ◽  
R. B. McDonald

Information from the records of the various agencies on control of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) was summarized from the early approach to control by mechanical or electrical barriers and chemical toxicants. While fish kill has been an inescapable consequence of the program, information available for migratory species has shown no large-scale detrimental effects. The only reportable instance of damage to a resident stream species has been the near loss of the stonecat (Noturus flavus) from tributaries to the southwest corner of Lake Superior, resulting from chemical treatments. Although no similar occurrences were recognized, available documentation proved inadequate to record long-term effects on these vulnerable species. As long as existing control methods continue, no matter the precautions taken, fish populations will be affected. Whether or not this remains a tenable situation is a question for this symposium and the future.Key words: weirs, chemicals, fish kills, sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus; Catostomus catostomus, Catostomus commersoni, Noturus flavus, Salvelinus fontinalis


1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1895-1905 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Gllderhus ◽  
B. G. H. Johnson

The chemicals 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) or a combination of TFM and 2′,5-dichloro-4′-nitrosalicylanilide (Bayer 73) have been used to control the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes for about 20 yr. These chemicals cause some mortalities of Oligochaeta and Hirudinea, immature forms of Ephemeroptera (Hexagenia sp.), and certain Trichoptera, Simuliidae, and Amphibia (Necturus sp.). The combination of TFM and Bayer 73 may affect some Pelecypoda and Gastropoda, but its overall effects on invertebrates are probably less than those of TFM alone. Granular Bayer 73 is likely to induce mortalities among oligochaetes, microcrustaceans, chironomids, and pelecypods. No evidence exists that the lampricides have caused the catastrophic decline or disappearance of any species. The overall impact of chemical control of sea lampreys on aquatic communities has been minor compared with the benefits derived.Key words: sea lamprey control, Great Lakes, TFM, Bayer 73, aquatic plants, invertebrates, amphibians


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document