title: Bile salts as semiochemicals in fish.
abstract: Bile salts are potent olfactory stimuli in fishes; however the biological functions driving such sensitivity remain poorly understood. We provide an integrative review of bile salts as semiochemicals in fish. First, we present characteristics of bile salt structure, metabolism, and function that are particularly relevant to chemical communication. Bile salts display a systematic pattern of structural variation across taxa, are efficiently synthesized, and are stable in the environment. Bile salts are released into the water via the intestine, urinary tract, or gills, and are highly water soluble. Second, we consider the potential role of bile salts as semiochemicals in the contexts of detecting nearby fish, foraging, assessing risk, migrating, and spawning. Lastly, we suggest future studies on bile salts as semiochemicals further characterize release into the environment, behavioral responses by receivers, and directly test the biological contexts underlying olfactory sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA and.
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Buchinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA and.
authors.forename: Weiming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: United States Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Hammond Bay Biological Station, 11188 Ray Road, Millersburg, MI 49759, USA njohnson@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012903:Smell
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D010675:Pheromones
keywords: chemical cue; communication; electro-olfactogram; olfaction; pheromone