The development of a novel pheromone based strategy to control an invasive fish

圆虾虎鱼（Gobiidae：Neogobius melanostomus）是一种入侵鱼类，存在于所有五个五大湖。 圆虾虎鱼正在影响五大湖的生态系统，包括以本地鱼类（湖鳟鱼、湖鲟鱼和小嘴鲈鱼）的胚胎和鱼苗为食。在与安大略自然资源部和地方，省和国家组织的合作伙伴关系，我们正在开发一种信息素陷阱，以捕捉本地鱼类产卵场和其他重要栖息地的生殖圆虾虎鱼。利用信息素吸引或排斥鱼类，以及更好地了解信息素通信的机制，在渔业管理中的应用，以促进可持续性，同时保护生物多样性，具有令人兴奋的潜力。我们已经证明，怀孕的女性被吸引到雄性圆虎鱼在实验室释放的气味，并预测我们的现场应用将是成功的。我们还确定了候选信息素（11-oxo-etiocholanolone-sulfate及其代谢产物），在生殖雄性圆虾虎鱼的睾丸中合成。 我们将确定雄性圆虾虎鱼释放信息素的速率和浓度。将在实验室中建立信息素羽流的流体动力学模型，并将其应用于实地情况。 我们设计了一个现场组件，以测试信息素陷阱捕捉怀孕的女性圆虎鱼的功效。虽然这项研究的重点是圆虾虎鱼，但其原理和研究可以适用于其他入侵生物（即，目前对七鳃鳗的研究）和重要的经济鱼类。鉴于加拿大休闲渔业的高参与度和巨大的经济价值，这项研究的结果将有助于确保渔业资源的可持续性。

The round goby (Gobiidae: Neogobius melanostomus) is an invasive fish species present in all five of the Great Lakes.  The round goby is impacting the Great Lakes ecosystem, including feeding on embryos and fry of native fishes (lake trout, lake sturgeon, and smallmouth bass). In partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and local, provincial and national organizations, we are developing a pheromone trap to capture reproductive round gobies on spawning grounds of native fishes and in other critical habitats. The use of pheromones to attract or repel fish, and a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie pheromone communication, have exciting potential for application in fisheries management to promote sustainability while conserving biodiversity. We have already shown that gravid females are attracted to odours released by male round gobies in the lab and predict that our field applications will be a success. We also have identified candidate pheromones (11-oxo-etiocholanolone-sulfate and its metabolites) that are synthesized in the testis of reproductive male round gobies.  We will determine the rate and concentration of pheromones released by male round gobies. Fluid dynamic models of pheromone plumes will be developed in the laboratory and applied to field situations.  We have designed a field component to test the efficacy of pheromone traps to capture gravid female round gobies. While this research is focused on round gobies, the principles and research can be adapted to other invasive organisms (i.e., existing research on sea lamprey) and economically important fishes. Given the high levels of participation and tremendous economic value of recreational fishing in Canada, the results of this research will help to ensure the sustainability of fisheries resources for generations.