A pheromone bouquet controls the reproductive behaviour of the male shore crab, Carcinus maenas

Abstract The reproduction of many brachyuran crustaceans involves the formation mating pairs often around time female moult with attraction a sexual partner and behaviour controlled by sex pheromones. In shore crabs, Carcinus maenas , females produce pheromones that are released in urine. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis (HPLC) urine shows pheromone, identified as nucleotide uridine diphosphate (UDP), elutes an unresolved peak structurally related nucleotides. We examined samples over cycle detected UDP well triphosphate (UTP). Bioassays were conducted to establish possibility blend nucleotides forming pheromone bouquet C. . Whilst induced male mate guarding (cradling), mixture two at ratio 4:1 UDP:UTP elicited even stronger response than either or UTP individually. concentration composition these changes period pre post ecdysis, providing evidence is not always constant. change physiological state sender, here cycle. Our study unravels functionality reaction-specific molecules bouquet. signal, acts attractant combined they maximise reproductive response. use bouquets provides species-specificity, potentially enabling isolation sympatric species, contains valuable information on sender.