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Complex Mammalian Behavior and Pheromone Bioassay in the Field

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Chemical Signals in Vertebrates

Abstract

True field bioassays of mammalian pheromones, i.e., experiments with free-living populations, are highly desirable from a biological point of view but are practical only in rare cases. The best generally practical approach, i.e., experiments with captive animals in outdoor settings, has yielded biologically meaningful results despite many environmental factors. Eleven aspects of such bioassays are discussed. The term “Informer Pheromone” is proposed in point 9. Point 10 discusses the pathway of the tarsal odor and the supporting specialized structures. Recent results of experiments with black-tailed deer and reindeer are given in point 11. These results deal with geometric isomers, early experience with maternal odors, taxonomic specificity of an alarm pheromone, the role of ant-orbital gland secretion in age class recognition in deer, and social odors in reindeer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, 13210, USA

    Dietland Müller-Schwarze

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  1. Dietland Müller-Schwarze
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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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Müller-Schwarze, D. (1977). Complex Mammalian Behavior and Pheromone Bioassay in the Field. 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_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2364-8_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2366-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2364-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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