8/3/2019 Lampreys and Saliva

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Activity of spawning phase sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in response to human( Homo sapiens ) saliva

Sean SislerDepartment of Biology

Lake Superior State University

Abstract

The sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) is an aggressive invader species that hasnegatively impacted the Great Lakes fisheries. Several management programs arecurrently in place to control sea lamprey populations. However, focus has shifted fromchemical controls to natural and pheromone controls. When human saliva is introducedinto system containing spawning phase sea lampreys, an activity increase is observed.This study has five objectives: 1) establish that there is an activity increase in response to

human saliva; 2) determine if lampreys respond differently to male or female saliva; 3)determine if there is a difference in response between male and female lamprey; 4)determine if there is a difference between reactions of several sea lampreys and a singleindividual; and 5) test four components of human saliva (amylase, lysozyme, urea, andmucin) for an activity increase. Human saliva and amylase both exhibited acorresponding increase in sea lamprey activity (p-value < .001). Male saliva exhibited anaverage increase of approximately 2.0 levels. Female saliva and amylase exhibited anactivity increase of approximately 1.5 levels. Lysozyme, urea, and mucin showed nosignificant increase in activity (0.1 to 0.0 levels). The difference between male andfemale saliva was insignificant (p-value = 0.22). There appears to be a difference in theway male and female sea lampreys respond to the various stimuli. Female lampreys hadthe greatest response to male saliva, and they reacted about the same to amylase andfemale saliva. Male lampreys had the greatest response to amylase and reacted about thesame to male and female saliva. The difference between multiple and single lampreyswas insignificant (p-value = .26). Amylase, upon further study for ecological effects hasthe potential to be used as a deterrent to improve the efficiency of barrier dams inblocking migration of sea lampreys.

Hardisty, M.W. and I.C. Potter. 1971. The biology of lampreys, volume 1. AcademicPress, London, England

Li, W., P.W. Sorensen, and D.D. Gallaher.1995. The olfactory system of migratory adultsea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) is specifically and acutely sensitive to unique bileacids released by conspecific larvae. Journal of General Physiology 105(5): 569-587.

Smith, B.R. and J.J. Tibbles. 1980. Sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) in Lakes Huron,Michigan, and Superior: history of invasion and control, 1936-78. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37: 1780-1801.