The Role of Olfaction in Courtship Behavior of the American Lobster Homarus americanus

Courtship behavior is well documented in captive lobsters. Sex pheromones contained in female urine and perceived by receptors on male antennules are thought to act as sex attractants or as signals necessary for pair formation. In this study, the lateral and medial antennules of male and female lobsters were removed. The result of these excisions were meant to indicate the gender-specific role of olfactory chemoreception in lobster courtship behavior. Removal of male antennules had little effect on pair bonding and mating. In contrast, removal of female antennules resulted in dramatic aberrations in behavior, including postmolt injuries and, in extreme cases, unsuccessful couplings and mortality. Therefore, female olfaction plays the more critical role in the normal reproductive behavior of Homarus americanus.