Chemical communication and aquaculture of decapod crustaceans: Needs, problems, and possible solutions

Abstract

Chemical communication has received very little attention in the field of crustacean aquaculture research. It has been investigated mainly with regard to the extent that chemical cues might be involved in social control of growth, which results in growth suppression and size variation among individuals under culture conditions, but no consistent conclusion has emerged that stimulated further development and application of solutions based on this knowledge. Implementation of knowledge on chemical communication in crustacean aquaculture has not gone further than some preliminary trials of the incorporation of pheromones as feeding attractants or of their use to facilitate trapping. In this review we attempted to identify those aquaculture procedures in which knowledge of chemical communication might be implemented, to indicate possible uses and to suggest possible solutions related to various aquacultured crustaceans. In most cases solutions based on chemical communication could probably be integrated into current culture techniques and would serve to enhance their efficiency. To achieve this aim, pheromones and potent chemical components that mediate behavioral and physiological processes relevant to aquaculture should be identified and synthetic versions and technical means for their efficient application should be developed.