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

化学信号分子对协调繁殖很重要，通常与其他信号一起使用。在学校游泳的洛戈鱿鱼，看到白色的指状物，在开阔的地方(视觉信号)，吸引雄性到产卵地点，来自卵的化学信号触发从求学到雄性竞争的行为变化。在乌贼(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。隐藏的卵中的化学物质可能会吸引雄性来到产卵场，而看到其他雄性则会引发雄性与雄性之间的竞争。实验室将使用Y型迷宫来测试来自鸡蛋的化学线索是否真的会吸引雄性乌贼。在罗力戈和乌贼卵中发现的化学物质能有效地协调繁殖，很可能起源于卵巢或输卵管腺。这些化学物质将被分离出来，并对其分子特性进行表征。攻击性行为反应(Lolio)和唤醒或吸引(Sepia)将用于确认分离的化学物质具有生物活性。结果将对研究化学交流和生殖的研究人员感兴趣，并将导致6-12名本科生的培训。

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.