Project
Characterizing juvenile sea lamprey olfactory-mediated host discrimination and preference.
Juvenile sea lamprey are generalist parasites known to feed on diverse host species in the Great Lakes. However, the means by which sea lamprey select from a diverse host community and their host preferences, if any, remain unknown. Sea lamprey parasitism is monitored by tracking marking rates solely on lake trout, yet attacks on other species can decouple the relationship between sea lamprey abundance and lake trout marking rates. Currently, the lack of empirical data on host preference creates uncertainty in interpreting observed lake trout marking rates, which is a key metric for the Sea Lamprey Control Program. The sea lamprey foraging process begins with identification and selection of a host. Identifying and locating that host requires sensory input and doing so in large water bodies that often lack visual reference points suggests olfaction plays a key role in sea lamprey host detection and preference. This project will examine how juvenile sea lamprey use chemical cues to identify and select host fishes. We will compare the olfactory sensitivity and discriminability between different host species odors. We will also compare juvenile sea lamprey preference for hosts based on odor.