Sex pheromones and reproductive isolation in two nereid species, Nereis suc-cinea and Platynereis dumerilii

Abstract

About 50 volatile compounds of the coelomic fluid of npe Nereis succinea were concentrated with a closed loop stripping technique and identified by coupled gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Gas chromatographic analysis showed the similarity of the volatile compounds of coelomic fluid of N. succinea and Platynereis dumerilii. The sex pheromone of P, dumerilii, 5-methyl-3heptanone, was likewise found in N. succinea where it is also biologically activeit induces an increase of activity in the nuptial dance behaviour and the release of a small cloud of sperm in males. In N. succinea the threshold concentration is about 25 times higher than in P. dumerilii. In these 2 nereid species, living and reproducing in the same area, 5-methyl-3-heptanone plays an important role in species recognition and reproductive isolation.