Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Fish Chemical Communication

Dear Colleagues,

The most ancient and ubiquitous form of information exchange is chemical communication; it is found in fungi, plants, bacteria, and animals. The aquatic environment is often turbid and dark, compromising visual communication; thus, fish use mainly chemicals to communicate and sample the surrounding environment. Chemical signals like pheromones are involved in many vital processes, such as reproduction, parent–young interactions, and territorial marking. Thus, alteration to the efficiency of chemical communication can dramatically impact animal behaviour and social interactions, disrupting ecological networks. Accumulating evidence shows that anthropogenic activities are having negative impacts on fish chemical communication; the presence of chemical pollutants and climate changes are the main factors disrupting aquatic chemical communication.

For chemical communication to occur, it is necessary that chemical signals are produced, transferred to the environment, bound to the chemoreceptors, transfer the information through the nervous system, and produce a meaningful response in the receiver. Anthropogenic disruption of fish chemical communication may affect any of these key points. Understanding the impacts and the physiological mechanism involved in the effects of human activities in fish chemical communication is essential to minimize the impacts.

Publications should focus on the consequences of chemical communication disruption on individuals, populations, and ecosystems, the mechanisms involved, and the possible adaptative strategies of fish to a constantly changing world.

Dr. Zélia Velez
Guest Editor

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• chemical communication
• olfactory disruption
• pollutants
• climate changes
• nanoplastics
• pheromones
• adaptative mechanisms
• olfaction
• neuronal alterations