Synopsis
The study investigates the sensitivity and the chemotaxis of glass eels caught during upstream migration with respect to freshwater solutions of 8 pure chemicals with earthy or green odour: 2-methyl-3-methoxypyrazine; 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine; 4-methylthiazole; 4-isopropyl-7-methylcyclohexathiazole; 1,2,2,6-tetramethylcyclohexanol; 1-ethyl-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanol; (L) and (D) 2-methylfenchol. All the tested substances are potent stimuli. Extremely low concentrations (ranging between 10-9 and 10-13 mg 1-1) are sufficient to elicit a choice in the fish. These chemicals, all of which are clearly attractive, could act as kairomones and play a fundamental orienting role in the upstream migration of glass eels.
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Sola, C. Chemoattraction of upstream migrating glass eelsAnguilla anguilla to earthy and green odorants. Environ Biol Fish 43, 179–185 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002489
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002489