Collaborative Research: Pheromones, Polyandry, and Female Reproductive Success in Cephalopods

化学信号分子对协调生殖很重要，通常与其他信号结合使用。在成群游动的Loligo乌贼中，看到露天的白色卵指群（视觉信号）会吸引雄性到产卵地点，卵发出的化学信号会引发从鱼群到雄性竞争的行为变化。在棕乌贼（通常是独居的）中，视觉和化学线索可能会以相反的方式使用。隐藏的卵发出的化学信号可能会吸引雄性到产卵地，而看到其他雄性则会引发雄性之间的竞争。一个实验室的y形迷宫将被用来测试来自卵子的化学线索是否真的能吸引雄性棕乌贼。在Loligo和Sepia中，在协调繁殖中活跃的化学物质都存在于卵子中，可能起源于卵巢或输卵管腺。这些化学物质将被分离出来，并对其分子性质进行表征。攻击（Loligo）和唤醒或吸引（Sepia）的行为反应将被用来确认分离的化学物质是否具有生物活性。研究结果将对研究化学交流和繁殖的研究人员感兴趣，并将对6-12名本科生进行培训。

Chemical signal molecules are important for coordinating reproduction and are often used in conjunction with other signals. In Loligo squid, which swim in schools, the sight of the white egg finger masses, laid in the open (the visual signal), attracts males to the spawning site, and chemical signals from eggs trigger a behavioral change from schooling to male-male competition. In Sepia cuttlefish (typically solitary), visual and chemical cues may be used the other way around. Chemical cues from hidden eggs may attract males to the laying grounds, while the sight of other males is known to trigger male-male competition. A laboratory y-maze will be used to testwhether chemical cues from eggs actually attract male Sepia. The chemicals that are active in coordinating reproduction in both Loligo and Sepia are found in the eggs, and probably originate in either the ovary or the oviducal gland. These chemicals will be isolated and their molecular properties characterized. The behavioral responses of aggression (Loligo) and arousal or attraction (Sepia) will be used to confirm that the isolated chemicals are bioactive. Results will be of interest to investigators studying chemicalcommunication and reproduction, and will result in the training of 6-12undergraduate students.