BREVIA groups (Chromis F1,8 = 0.009, P = 0.925 and Clepticus F1,8 =0.047,P =0.833). The results are consistent with the foraging Dimethylsulfoniopropionate as a ecology of these species. Creole wrasse form midwater, off-reef foraging aggregations, whereas boga are open-water fishes that feed on zoo- Foraging Cue for Reef Fishes plankton and only occasionally forage over reefs (7). Other planktivores such as sargeant major Jennifer L. DeBose,1 Sean C. Lema,2 Gabrielle A. Nevitt1* (Abudefduf saxatilis) and yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) did not respond to DMSP oral reefs resemble islands of productive sites only in response to DMSP (Fig. 1, B and C). (for Abudefduf, c2 =0.118,P =0.731,n =8;for habitats where fishes aggregate, forage, Additional analysis confirmed that there was no Ocyurus, c2 = 0.223, P = 0.637, n = 8); however, Cand spawn. Although it has been sug- difference in background counts taken before they generally occurred in fewer numbers than the gested that some reef fishes use biogenic com- release between release sites [analysis of variance other species (average ± SEM for Abudefduf was pounds as aggregation cues, specific compounds (ANOVA), Chromis F3,8 = 3.43, P = 0.072, and 2.8 ± 0.59; for Ocyurus, 1.0 ± 0.18) (6). These have not been identified. Dimethylsulfoniopropi- Clepticus F3,8 = 3.09, P =0.089]ortreatment results imply that odors linked more closely to onate (DMSP) is produced by phytoplankton feedingactivitythantothepresenceofpreyalert and by benthic algae associated with coral reefs some planktivorous fish species to potential and is linked to ocean productivity (1). DMSP foraging opportunities. These cues likely work in is released during grazing by zooplankton or conjunction with visual cues provided by the when herbivores are eaten (2, 3), suggesting a foraging behavior of other fishes. role as a foraging cue. DMSP has been studied Although DMSP has been studied primarily in intensively for its role in oceanic sulfur cycles the context of global climate regulation, our results and global climate regulation, but its ecological suggest that planktivorous fishes can eavesdrop on importance to marine fishes is unknown. Here, trophic interactions that leave residual chemical we present evidence that planktivorous reef signatures and point to DMSP as a specific, biogenic on March 13, 2008 fishes will aggregate to controlled experimental compound that they can use to exploit their prey. deployments of DMSP over coral reef habitats Taken more broadly, this work strengthens the in the wild. hypothesis that, in addition to serving as a climate Release experiments were conducted at four regulator, DMSP is an important signal molecule in sites on fringing reefs along 62 km of coastline the marine environment (1). Recognizing this dual off Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Sites were role should allow us to better understand and predict separatedbyatleast14km.Ouraimwasto the effects of climate change on trophic inter- produce a down-current DMSP plume approx- actions in the biological realm. −7 −9 imating concentrations (10 to 10 M) that www.sciencemag.org coral reef fish are likely to encounter in nature References and Notes (4, 5). Two pairs of high-density polyethylene 1. M. Steinke, J. Stefels, E. Stamhuis, Limnol. Oceanogr. 51, 1925 (2006). carboys (19 liters) containing either DMSP −7 2. J. W. H. Dacey, G. M. King, P. S. Lobel, Mar. Ecol. Prog. (10 M) or control (distilled water) were de- Ser. 112, 67 (1994). ployed2to3mapartateachreefsite(6). 3. H. Iida, Bull. Tokai Reg. Fish. Res. Lab. 124, 35 (1988). Carboys were suspended midwater and an- 4. A. Broadbent, G. B. Jones, Mar. Freshw. Res. 55, 849 (2004). 5. G. B. Jones, A. J. Trevena, Mar. Freshw. Res. 56, 85 (2005). chored to the substrate. Carboys released DMSP 6. Materials and methods are available on Science Online. Downloaded from or control solutions (0.5 liter per min) along the 7. E. Lieske, R. Myers, Coral Reef Fishes: Indo-Pacific and reef edge for 60 min, driven by the buoyant force Caribbean Including the Red Sea (Harper Collins, London, of fresh water. We reasoned that, if fish used 1994). DMSP as a foraging cue, then more fish would 8. Funded by the American Museum of Natural History and a PEO Scholar Award (to J.L.D.). We thank Carribbean beattractedtoDMSPthantocontrolplumes. Research and Management of Biodiversity Foundation Results indicate that DMSP is a potent (CARMABI), K. Bright, A. Gazit, B. Leysner, S. Strom, and attractant to some planktivorous reef fish R. Zimmer for logistical or technical assistance. Experiments species, including brown chromis (Chromis adhered to Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee multilineata ’ c 2 Fig. 1. Responses of coral reef fishes to DMSP and guidelines for animal research. Contribution number 2395 ,Fig.1A,Friedmanstest r = Chromis multilineata to Bodega Marine Laboratory. 9.66, P = 0.002, n = 8), Creole wrasse control releases over 1 hour. (A) (brown chromis), (B) Clepticus parrae (Creole wrasse), (C) Supporting Online Material (Clepticus parrae,Fig.1B,c 2 =25.6,P < r Inermia vittata (boga). Fish counts plotted on the y axes www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/319/5868/1356/DC1 0.001, n = 8), and boga (Inermia vittata,Fig. Materials and Methods are shown before release (”background” is to the left of 6 References 1C) ( ). Fish also responded to DMSP fol- 0 min) and at 10-min intervals during DMSP (black) and lowing species-specific patterns. For example, control (gray) releases. Arrows at 0 and 20 min indicate 28 September 2007; accepted 12 December 2007 10.1126/science.1151109 brown chromis tend to associate with the reef when the first and second sets of carboys were opened. crest but aggregate in the water column to for- Current velocity did not differ between DMSP and control 1 age on zooplankton (7). During DMSP re- releases (for DMSP, velocity = 155 ± 28 cm/s; for control, Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and the Bodega leases, their numbers in the water column t t P Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA velocity = 213 ± 66 cm/s; test, =0.64, =0.55), 95616, USA. 2Biology and Marine Biology and the Center increased to nearly four times that of back- indicating that current velocity was not a strong determinant for Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Wilming- ground levels. By contrast, Creole wrasse and for the number of fish attracted. Note that y axes are shown ton, NC 28403, USA. boga tend to occur in open water or on the reef at different scales. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = *To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: edge. These species recruited to the release 8). [Photos in (A) and (C) courtesy of F. and J. Burek] [email protected] 1356 7 MARCH 2008 VOL 319 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org.