Research progress on sex pheromones in aquatic animals.

Sex pheromones, as key mediators of chemical communication in organisms, are important for regulating species behaviour and ecological relationships. During the reproductive phase, these substances can be used to induce directed convergence and specific behavioural responses in individuals of the same species and opposite sex. However, there are significant technical challenges in studying aquatic animal pheromones, primarily the limited sensitivity and specificity of detection methods. The pheromonal compositions and mechanistic pathways across many species remain unclear. Given the transmission properties of aquatic environmental media for chemical signals, in-depth analyses of the interactions between sex pheromones and the sensory systems and reproductive strategies of animals will help to unravel their adaptive mechanisms. This review clarified the conceptual framework of pheromones, synthesized current knowledge on their sources, release pathways, chemical profiles, and target species in aquatic animals, and examined their functional roles during reproduction. We further prospected the future practical applications of sex pheromone research, aiming to provide reference for aquatic animal diversity conservation, ecological restoration and aquatic animal management.