A study from Michigan State University has discovered a new way to repel sea lampreys, a destructive invasive organism which acts like a leech and is infecting the Great Lakes. Researchers have found that sea lampreys rely on pheromones for navigation, and will swim away if they smell pheromones coming from a dead lamprey. As such, scientists are using dead lamprey pheromones in traps to sterilize and track lampreys, as well as in "scent dams" which prevent lampreys from invading sensitive areas.
This study fascinates me. On an evolutionary standpoint it makes sense: sea lampreys would want to swim away from a dead lamprey, as a dead lamprey would generally indicate disease or predators. Furthermore, the entire process of using natural pheromones as a repellent has huge economic impacts in my mind. After all, why use a harmful pesticide when a natural and safe repellent exists. Finally, this new and innovative way of controlling invasive species could be used to help control other invasive species, which are, in general, a serious problem for the ecosystem
