Auditory and olfactory abilities of settlement-stage larvae of the coral trout Plectropomus leopardus (Pisces: Serranidae) were tested electrophysiologically to determine if these senses are sufficiently developed to aid larvae in detection of settlement habitats on coral reefs. Plectropomus leopardus larvae detected sounds from 100 to 2000 Hz with hearing most sensitive at the frequencies of 100, 200 and 600 Hz. The olfactory response of P. leopardus was similar for the two amino acids tested and for the water conditioned by conspecifics. Auditory and olfactory abilities of P. leopardus are well developed at settlement-stage, and apparently sufficient to detect auditory and olfactory cues from reefs.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	auditory brainstem response, coral reef fish, electro-olfactogram, larvae, sensory abilities, settlement-stage
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology)
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
Objective Field:	Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
UTAS Author:	Leis, JM (Dr Jeff Leis)
ID Code:	94183
Year Published:	2008
Web of Science® Times Cited:	26
Deposited By:	IMAS Research and Education Centre
Deposited On:	2014-09-02
Last Modified:	2014-09-05
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