Reproductive Behaviour and Urinary Signals in the Round Goby Neogobiud Melanostomus

In studying chemical communication, it is important to characterize how olfactory signals are released and dispersed by the producer before investigating how signals are interpreted by the receiver. In the present study, I used dye injections and a particles image velocimetry technique to characterize the release and dispersion of urine signals by male round gobies. I found that male round gobies release urine signals passively and do not modulate their urination in the presence of reproductive females. Additionally, males use repeated tail flippings to generate currents that disperse pheromones in the environment and enhance the detection of this coumpounds by females. Thus, males can advertise their reproductiveness without leaving the nest. Ultimately, the characterization of round goby pheromonal communication will improve our understanding of the role of chemical signals in animals and will be an important asset for the control of the invasive round goby in the Great Lakes.