FISHODOR · Integrating conspecific odors into tilapia reproductive behaviour

Integrating conspecific odors into tilapia reproductive behaviour

Chemical communication is the most ancient and widespread form of exchanging information; it is used by everything from bacteria to mammals. When a chemical message triggers a specific effect in the receiver, the substance is said to be a pheromone. The sensing of chemical signals, mainly via the sense of smell, plays an important role in social functioning, because olfactory information projects to brain regions (i.e. olfactory bulbs, OB; Telencephalon, Te) that are critical for mating, reproductive and cognitive levels. So, olfaction can provide a natural window to the brain, and an opportunity to examine neuronal mechanisms and brain function in a non-invasive way. Nowadays Mozambique tilapia is highly valuable culture fish in many parts of the world from Asia and South America to Europe, because there is an economic specie in aquaculture and easily to rear in captivity (i.e. quite adaptable to a wide range of environments of salinity and temperature), and reproductively active all the year round. However, escapees suppose a higher environmental risk because they may become pets competing with autochthonous species. Mozambique tilapia released pheromones via urine to signal social position, and attract and stimulate females to spawn. Therefore, our overall aim is to provide novel information on the mechanism of action of pheromones, and elucidate the components of neuronal network from the olfactory system to the central nervous system. In this regard, we demonstrated that 0.1mM CuSO4 is the sub-lethal concentration can impair the olfactory detection of sex pheromone and reproduction process, but not affect to welfare condition of animals. These results will also be relevant at ecological and toxicological level because will be useful to establish a range concentration of heavy metal to reduce devastating impact and control population during intensive culture of tilapia, as well as reducing the deterioration and contamination of surface water and riverine sediments to result in a loss of biodiversity at environmental level.Moreover, our results make important contributions to the aquaculture of this novel food resource through the development of new tools to population control necessaries to reduce its devastating impact at ecological level, as well as promoting the future aquaculture of tilapia as healthy and novel food resource at global level.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union