Dimethyl Sulfide is a Chemical Attractant for Reef Fish Larvae

Matthew A Foretich,Claire B Paris,John D Stieglitz,Daniel D Benetti,Martin Grosell

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-02675-3

Matthew A Foretich, Claire B Paris + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02675-3

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: May 31, 2017
Citations: 24	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Miami

Abstract

Transport of coral reef fish larvae is driven by advection in ocean currents and larval swimming. However, for swimming to be advantageous, larvae must use external stimuli as guides. One potential stimulus is “odor” emanating from settlement sites (e.g., coral reefs), signaling the upstream location of desirable settlement habitat. However, specific chemicals used by fish larvae have not been identified. Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is produced in large quantities at coral reefs and may be important in larval orientation. In this study, a choice-chamber (shuttle box) was used to assess preference of 28 pre-settlement stage larvae from reef fish species for seawater with DMS. Swimming behavior was examined by video-tracking of larval swimming patterns in control and DMS seawater. We found common responses to DMS across reef fish taxa - a preference for water with DMS and change in swimming behavior - reflecting a switch to “exploratory behavior”. An open water species displayed no response to DMS. Affinity for and swimming response to DMS would allow a fish larva to locate its source and enhance its ability to find settlement habitat. Moreover, it may help them locate prey accumulating in fronts, eddies, and thin layers, where DMS is also produced.

Highlights

The early life history of most reef fishes is a multi-stage process during which they are capable of long-distance dispersal; the behaviors influencing dispersal are poorly understood
We demonstrate that reef fish larvae, across taxa, display a preference for seawater containing Dimethyl sulfide (DMS)
Observe any preference for DMS in larvae of the epipelagic mahi-mahi, nor did we observe any change in behavior

Summary

Introduction

The early life history of most reef fishes is a multi-stage process during which they are capable of long-distance dispersal; the behaviors influencing dispersal are poorly understood. There is strong physiological and evolutionary evidence to suggest that olfaction is the most primitive and universal sense, and that it is intricately linked to odor-tracking and the use of a cognitive odor map[16, 17] It is not always clear whether olfaction (e.g., chemoreception at the olfactory epithelium) or gustation (e.g., chemoreception on internal or external taste buds) is at work, but both chemosensory systems are well developed in fishes[18]. Like salmon, some coral reef fish appear capable of imprinting as early as embryonic development and into the first 24 hours post-hatch[29]. The expression of this imprinting seems to vary throughout ontogeny, with chemical preference sharply transitioning from that of offshore waters to that of settlement habitat in one case[30]. Despite this breadth of literature, there is only a weak understanding of exactly what chemicals appeal to larvae (e.g., plant or coral “leachate”)

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