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Chemical Communication as Adaptation: Alarm Substance of Fish

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Chemical Signals in Vertebrates

Abstract

An alarm pheromone (alarm substance, Schreckstoff) is released when the epidermis of an ostariophysian or gonorhynchiform fish is damaged. Conspecifics respond with a fright reaction. The alarm substance and fright reaction are both absent in some specialized ostariophysians. Others, such as blind cave fish, lose just the fright reaction. Some cyprinids, which have abrasive spawning behavior, lose the alarm substance, but not necessarily the fright reaction, during the breeding season. The development and main­tenance of the alarm substance cells may be an example of animal-altruism maintained by kin selection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N OWO

    R. Jan F. Smith

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  1. R. Jan F. Smith
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Dietland Müller-Schwarze

  2. Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Maxwell M. Mozell

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© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

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Smith, R.J.F. (1977). Chemical Communication as Adaptation: Alarm Substance of Fish. In: Müller-Schwarze, D., Mozell, M.M. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2364-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2364-8_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2366-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2364-8

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