Volatile emission by contest losers revealed by real-time chemical analysis
| Autor: | Tim P. Batchelor, Ian C.W. Hardy, Marlène Goubault, Andrew J. Taylor, Robert S. T. Linforth |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2006 |
| Předmět: |
Competitive Behavior
Goniozus legneri Time Factors General Immunology and Microbiology biology Behavior Animal Ecology Chemistry Chemical exchange Wasps General Medicine biology.organism_classification CONTEST Deuterium General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Parasitoid wasp Aggression Competitive behavior Chemical manipulation Animals Female General Agricultural and Biological Sciences General Environmental Science Research Article |
| Popis: | Animal interactions often involve chemical exchange but simultaneous evaluation of chemistry and behaviour has been problematical. Here we report findings from a novel method, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) coupled with manipulation of molecular-mass achieved by rearing organisms on deuterium-enhanced nutrients. This allows real-time monitoring of the occurrence and quantity of volatile chemicals released by each of two interacting individuals, in tandem with behavioural observations. We apply these methods to female–female contests in the parasitoid waspGoniozus legneri. We show that this species emits the spiroacetal 2-methyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane. Chemical release is most common in more behaviourally aggressive contests, which occur when prior resource owners successfully resist take-over by similar-sized intruder females. Volatiles released during contests are always emitted by the loser. Aggression in contests is reduced after spiroacetal release. We suggest that the spiroacetal functions as a weapon of rearguard action. We anticipate that APCI-MS, which is rapid, non-intrusive and relatively inexpensive to operate, will be widely applied in studies linking chemistry and behaviour. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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