Sex pheromones in marine polychaetes 5: A biologically active volatile compound from the coelomic fluid of female Nereis (Neanthes) japonica (Annelida Polychaeta)

• Published in: Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology 1996-09, Vol.201 (1-2), p.275-284
• Main Authors: Bartels-Hardege, H D, Hardege, J D, Zeeck, E, Mueller, C, Wu, B L, Zhu, MY
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Marine; Nereis japonica
• ISSN: 0022-0981
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-0981(96)00009-3

In Nereis japonica, mature individuals leave their burrows to spawn at night near to the water surface. This process is timed by environmental factors such as temperature, daylength and lunar cycle to result in simultaneous spawning of a given population. The swarming behaviour which ensues is controlled by a bouquet of sex pheromones. A volatile compound, the ketone 3,5-octadiene-2-one was isolated and chemically characterized from the coelomic fluid of ripe, swarming females of N. japonica. During the reproductive behaviour of this species the ketone elicits an increase of swimming activity. This nuptial dance is characterized by swimming in circles prior to the release of gametes into the free water column. In N. japonica, the 3,5-octadiene-2-one functions in a very similar way to the sex pheromone 5-methyl-3-heptanone previously described in a number of nereid species. 5-methyl-3-heptanone is not detectable in N. japonica and behavioural assays revealed no significant stimulation by addition of this substance but an abrupt decrease in swarming activity. The importance of species specificity of chemical signals during reproduction of closely related nereid polychaetes is discussed.