Electronic Resource
Oxford, UK; Malden, USA
:
Blackwell Science Ltd/Inc
Journal of fish biology
63 (2003), S. 0
ISSN:
1095-8649
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
The ability of salmon to home to their natal stream to spawn has long intrigued biologists. It is known that olfaction is crucial to accurate homing, and that the transition between freshwater and marine environments (the parr-smolt transformation; PST) is a period of increased olfactory sensitivity and learning, resulting in a permanent memory of natal site odours that is retained in peripheral sensory neurons. These odours are then used as cues by sexually maturing fish on their homeward migration. We have used molecular techniques to demonstrate transient increases in expression of odourant receptor transcripts coincident with PST. Both olfactory and vomeronasal receptors are involved, which suggests that the fish learn both environmental odours and semiochemicals (pheromones). Receptor expression varies between families and changes over time indicating both genetic differences in odour stimuli and multiple periods of olfactory sensitivity. We hypothesise that changes in gene expression may have a role in maintaining population structure in Atlantic salmon.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.0216r.x
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