A deathly odor suggests a new sustainable tool for controlling a costly invasive species

Abstract

Here we confirm a long-standing anecdotal observation; the sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) actively avoids the odor emitted by decaying conspecifics. We extracted the semiochemical mixture produced by the putrefying carcasses of sea lampreys via Soxhlet extraction in ethanol and exposed groups of 10 migratory-phase lampreys to either the putrefaction extract (N = 8) or an ethanol control (N = 8) in a laboratory raceway. Sea lampreys rapidly avoided the putrefaction odor while exhibiting no response to the ethanol control. This response was elicited with a diluted mixture (1:373 000) and was maintained for 40 min (the duration of exposure), after which the lampreys quickly returned to their nominal distribution. The ease with which this odor is obtained, and the rapid and consistent behavioral response, suggests the substance will prove useful as a repellent in the sea lamprey control program carried out in the Laurentian Great Lakes.

Migratory‐stage sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus stop responding to conspecific damage‐released alarm cues after 4 h of continuous exposure in laboratory conditions

“…Several studies have recently supported that damage‐released alarm cues may serve as a promising addition to the integrated control methods of this formidable invasive species (Wagner et al , ; Bals & Wagner, ; Imre et al , ). Further, Imre et al () investigated whether migratory‐stage P .…”

The behavioural response of adult Petromyzon marinus to damage‐released alarm and predator cues

“…marinus recognize and respond to chemosensory alarm cues. Wagner et al () demonstrated in a semi‐natural experimental study that the proportion of adult P . marinus on the side of a laboratory stream channel scented with decaying P .…”

Sea LampreyPetromyzon marinusBiology and Management Across Their Native and Invasive Ranges: Promoting Conservation by Knowledge Transfer

“…Twohey et al, 2003 Chemosensory alarm cues Natural repellents to force individuals into management areas Direct adults from low quality habitats/ streams and direct to areas of favorable habitat. Imre et al, 2010;Wagner et al, 2011 application, especially in large rivers (McLean, 2014). The trapping can also be highly selective for P. marinus 650 (McLaughlin et al, 2007).…”

“…such as the conspecific deathly odor (Wagner et al, 2011), conspecific injury-released alarm cues , heterospecific damage-released stimuli , and predator chemosensory cues . In their invasive 815 range, these could be used as repellents to manipulate migratory behaviors and thus have potential application to population control (Imre et al, 2010) to increase with climate change due to predicted hydrological alterations that result from more unpredictable precipitation patterns (Morrongiello et al, 2011).…”