Assessing the Role of Olfactory Cues in the Early Life History of Coral Reef Fish: Current Methods and Future Directions

For coral reef fishes, the transition from planktonic larvae to benthic-dwelling juvenile (i.e., the settlement phase) represents a critical point in their life cycle with subsequent survival and fitness largely dependent on behavioral decisions made during this time. Olfactory cues often mediate these behaviors, both pre- and post-settlement. For instance, odors are often used to locate and orientate towards settlement habitats, while olfactory cues also provide an important learning tool for newly settled fish. Most research in this area has examined the role of odors in the behavioral ecology of young coral reef fishes, and almost nothing is known of the chemical nature of relevant odors. A greater emphasis is needed on isolating exactly what odor molecules are used as cues and their origin and concentration, as well as determining how these odors influence behavior over multiple spatial scales.