Abstract
Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) are exceptionally capable of switching from excreting ammonia as their primary nitrogenous waste to excreting predominantly urea in distinct pulses across the gill. Previous studies suggest that these urea pulses may be used for intraspecific chemical communication. To determine whether pulsatile urea excretion communicates reproductive status, toadfish were sexed using ultrasound and delivered conspecific-conditioned seawater (CC-SW) that previously housed a conspecific of the opposite sex, a conspecific chemical alarm cue (avoidance control), or a prey cue (attraction control). Swim behavior, attraction to or avoidance of the cues, and changes in the pattern of pulsatile urea excretion were monitored during and after delivery. Gulf toadfish did not spend more time in zones that were delivered CC-SWor prey cue. However, male toadfish spent significantly more time swimming after the delivery of female cues than control seawater (SW). In contrast, toadfish did not appear to have an immediate avoidance response to the conspecific alarm cue. Additionally, significantly more toadfish pulsed within 7 h of CC-SWand prey cue delivery compared to control SW, and pulse frequency was 1.6 times greater in response to CC-SW than control SW. These results, in combination with increased urea production and excretion the during breeding season, suggest that toadfish may use pulsatile urea excretion to communicate with conspecifics when exposed to chemosensory cues from the opposite sex.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 125-139 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Physiological and Biochemical Zoology |
| Volume | 92 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Alarm cue
- Ammonia
- Prey cue
- Social status
- Swim behavior
- Ultrasound
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Animal Science and Zoology
Cite this
Do gulf toadfish use pulsatile urea excretion to chemically communicate reproductive status? / Cartolano, Maria C.; Tullis-Joyce, Phallon; Kubicki, Kathleen; Mcdonald, Danielle M.
In: Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, Vol. 92, No. 2, 01.03.2019, p. 125-139.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Do gulf toadfish use pulsatile urea excretion to chemically communicate reproductive status?
AU - Cartolano, Maria C.
AU - Tullis-Joyce, Phallon
AU - Kubicki, Kathleen
AU - Mcdonald, Danielle M
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) are exceptionally capable of switching from excreting ammonia as their primary nitrogenous waste to excreting predominantly urea in distinct pulses across the gill. Previous studies suggest that these urea pulses may be used for intraspecific chemical communication. To determine whether pulsatile urea excretion communicates reproductive status, toadfish were sexed using ultrasound and delivered conspecific-conditioned seawater (CC-SW) that previously housed a conspecific of the opposite sex, a conspecific chemical alarm cue (avoidance control), or a prey cue (attraction control). Swim behavior, attraction to or avoidance of the cues, and changes in the pattern of pulsatile urea excretion were monitored during and after delivery. Gulf toadfish did not spend more time in zones that were delivered CC-SWor prey cue. However, male toadfish spent significantly more time swimming after the delivery of female cues than control seawater (SW). In contrast, toadfish did not appear to have an immediate avoidance response to the conspecific alarm cue. Additionally, significantly more toadfish pulsed within 7 h of CC-SWand prey cue delivery compared to control SW, and pulse frequency was 1.6 times greater in response to CC-SW than control SW. These results, in combination with increased urea production and excretion the during breeding season, suggest that toadfish may use pulsatile urea excretion to communicate with conspecifics when exposed to chemosensory cues from the opposite sex.
AB - Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) are exceptionally capable of switching from excreting ammonia as their primary nitrogenous waste to excreting predominantly urea in distinct pulses across the gill. Previous studies suggest that these urea pulses may be used for intraspecific chemical communication. To determine whether pulsatile urea excretion communicates reproductive status, toadfish were sexed using ultrasound and delivered conspecific-conditioned seawater (CC-SW) that previously housed a conspecific of the opposite sex, a conspecific chemical alarm cue (avoidance control), or a prey cue (attraction control). Swim behavior, attraction to or avoidance of the cues, and changes in the pattern of pulsatile urea excretion were monitored during and after delivery. Gulf toadfish did not spend more time in zones that were delivered CC-SWor prey cue. However, male toadfish spent significantly more time swimming after the delivery of female cues than control seawater (SW). In contrast, toadfish did not appear to have an immediate avoidance response to the conspecific alarm cue. Additionally, significantly more toadfish pulsed within 7 h of CC-SWand prey cue delivery compared to control SW, and pulse frequency was 1.6 times greater in response to CC-SW than control SW. These results, in combination with increased urea production and excretion the during breeding season, suggest that toadfish may use pulsatile urea excretion to communicate with conspecifics when exposed to chemosensory cues from the opposite sex.
KW - Alarm cue
KW - Ammonia
KW - Prey cue
KW - Social status
KW - Swim behavior
KW - Ultrasound
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058807162&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85058807162&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/701497
DO - 10.1086/701497
M3 - Article
C2 - 30657409
AN - SCOPUS:85058807162
VL - 92
SP - 125
EP - 139
JO - Physiological and Biochemical Zoology
JF - Physiological and Biochemical Zoology
SN - 1522-2152
IS - 2
ER -