Electro-olfactory responses of Grass Carp, Bighead Carp, and Silver Carp to the amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid

Using juvenile individuals of 3 species of carp (Family: Cyprinidae), we tested the potential for six amino acids to elicit an extracellular electro-olfactory response within the naris using gelatin-based electrodes. The amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid were tested on Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and Silver Carp (H. molitrix) to provide a comparison among amino acids both within and among species. Each row in the data set represents exposure to a single amino acid. Each individual fish was exposed to up to four amino acids sequentially in a random order, representing a trial; each individual was a subject for exactly one trial. The response metric was the measured response peak, in millivolts, corrected by subtracting the mean baseline during exposure to well water 60 seconds prior to the amino acid response. The baseline-corrected, absolute value of the response to ultrapure, deionized (UDI or “Nanopure”) water immediately preceding a trial is also included. Other relevant factors that could influence measured individual response, such as number of times electrodes were repositioned within a trial (n = 4 repositions across 76 trials), nominal concentration of amino acid solutions, fish mass, holding tank temperature, and flow rate of water and amino acid solutions over the naris are included. Identifying data, namely date of trial and an individual subject ID (equivalent to a trial ID), are also included.