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EVIDENCE FOR SEX PHEROMONES IN PLANKTONIC COPEPODS
Author(s) -
Katona Steven K.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1973.18.4.0574
Subject(s) - biology , sex pheromone , zoology , ecology
When in the presence of potential mates, males of the copepods Eurytemora affinis , Eurytemora herdmani, and Pseudodiaptomus coronatus performed mate‐seeking behavior which appeared to be oriented. Males of E. affinis and P. coronatus located stationary females from up to 20 mm away. Males of E. affinis also chased and found secured females moved by a mechanical device. Eurytemora affinis males performed mate‐seeking behavior toward females of all three species, and, to some extent, toward other conspecific males. However, they attempted to copulate with conspecific females most frequently. Evidence suggested that males detected other copepods by means of diffusible chemicals. Males of the three species showed copulatory behavior toward secured females (or males) of their own species in about 80% of trial presentations. They usually did not try to copulate with animals of the other genus. Males of E. affinis were less selective between specimens of the two Eurytemora species than were E. herdmani males. Relatively specific chemical substances, active on contact, were probably the main factors eliciting copulatory behavior from males.