Abstract
The behavioral responses of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and black (I. melas), brown (I. nebulosus) and yellow bullhead (I. natalis) to pheromones were monitored. Channel catfish were significantly attracted to the water-borne oder on an immature female con-specific and exhibited a significant interaction between the donor's odor, sex of test fish and water flow. The odor was also efficiently localized without a differential in water flow by both channel catfish and brown bullhead. The above species were significantly attracted to their own substrate marks. The attraction of channel catfish to PVC tubes within species indicated preferences for their own residence tubes, plus attraction to the tube of conspecific. Male channel catfish, following exposure to conspecifics, recognized and avoided their substrate marks on tubes. Channel catfish exhibited a greater attraction to tubes of black bullheads than to the respective tubes of yellow and brown bullheads. Sexually mature black bullheads showed a strong immature fish of either sex. These data indicate recognition of different substrate marks according to sex, species and state of sexual maturity of the donors. The chemical cues may allow home site recognition and territorial marking. ...
Rubec, Peter James (1979). Effect of pheromones on behavior of ictalurid catfish. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -53448.