TIMING OF REPRODUCTION IN MARINE POLYCHAETES - THE ROLE OF SEX-PHEROMONES

In many marine invertebrates, such as the nereid polychaetes, sex pher omones ensure the coordinated release of gametes by both sexual partne rs. The question of species-specificity of chemical cues and the scale of their distribution in the marine environment evolves when one cons iders the wide overlap in multispecies and multiphyla spawning. Behavi oural and electrophysiological assays with several nereid species, suc h as Platynereis dumerilii, Nereis succinea, N. virens and N, japonica , confirm the existence of heterospecific activity of coelomic fluid. The nuptial dance, as well as the release of gametes, are elicited whe n individuals are exposed to coelomic fluid of another nereid species. We, therefore, discuss the function of sex pheromones in nereid polyc haetes and their role in the timing of reproduction in relation to oth er environmental cues.