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Emerging possibilities for the use of pheromonal attractants in fish control.
University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 U.S.A.
Email: PWS@FW.UMN.EDU
Approximately half-a-dozen species of nonindigenous fishes threaten the ecological integrity of North American freshwater ecosystems. Particularly notable are the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The sea lamprey is an ancient jawless species with a migratory life history that invaded the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean and whose juvenile parasitic form presently poses a direct threat to teleost fishes. The carp is a non-migratory species which was purposefully introduced from Europe and whose benthic feeding habits are causing serious declines in water quality and native fish abundance. To date, piscides (toxins) have served as the basis of control programs for both species with the sea lamprey program being the most developed and successful. Riverine barriers are also being employed and in the case of sea lamprey, sterile males are being introduced. However, while beneficial, these techniques have fallen short because of the remarkable fecundity of these species. New control measures are thus sought and pheromones (chemical signals that pass between members of the same species) are being considered as a means to improve adult trapping for the purpose of removal and/or sterilization. A variety of compounds with pheromonal activity have been identified for both lamprey and carp which are active at low (picomolar) concentrations, environmentally safe, and easy to apply. My talk will explore the nature of these cues and how they might best be used to control unwanted species of fish. (Supported by the A.S.F.B., Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and the State of Minnesota).
Room 1 Tuesday 10.45 am
