scholarly journals Olfactory signals and fertility in olive baboons

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Vaglio ◽  
Pamela Minicozzi ◽  
Sharon E. Kessler ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Joanna M. Setchell
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Volatile Component ◽  
Sexual Cycle ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Sexual Signals ◽  
Papio Anubis ◽  
Female Age ◽  
Olive Baboons ◽  
Vaginal Cytology

AbstractFemale primates signal impending ovulation with a suite of sexual signals. Studies of these signals have focussed on visual, and to a lesser extent, acoustic signals, neglecting olfactory signals. We aimed to investigate the information content of female olfactory signals in captive olive baboons (Papio anubis) and relate these to the female fertile period. We studied eight adult females living in four groups at the CNRS Station de Primatologie, Rousset-sur-Arc, France. We used vaginal cytology to detect ovulation. We investigated the volatile component of odour signals using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found a total of 74 volatile compounds, of which we tentatively identified 25, including several ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, terpenes, volatile fatty acids and hydrocarbons that have been identified in odour profiles of other primates. Our results show that vaginal odour intensity differs with sexual cycle stage suggesting that odour might play a role in signalling female baboon fertility. We found differences in vaginal odour between females living in all-female and in mixed sex groups but we could not distinguish the effects of group composition, female age and identity. This study of olfactory signalling improves our understanding of how female primates advertise their sexual receptivity.

scholarly journals Volatile Component Analysis of Michelia alba Leaves and Their Effect on Fumigation Activity and Worker Behavior of Solenopsis invicta

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deqiang Qin ◽  
Rilin Huang ◽  
Zihao Li ◽  
Shiying Wang ◽  
Dongmei Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solid Phase ◽  
Volatile Component ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Dominant Component ◽  
Fallen Leaves ◽  
Good Resource ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

Volatile compounds from mashed (fresh, fallen, and dried) leaves ofMichelia alba were collected via solid-phase microextraction and werethen identified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The resultsshowed that linalool was the dominant component in different leaves,together with caryophyllene, β-elemene, and selinene, the contents ofwhich vary across the samples. The fumigation bioassay results showedthat the volatiles from M. alba leaves exhibited insecticidal activity againstred imported fire ant workers, and the mortality of workers could reachup to 100% after the fallen leaves were treated for 16 h. Mashed freshleaves could effectively reduce the aggregation and drinking ability ofworkers. The volatile substances released from the mashed leaves mightkill the ants, or affect their behavior and weaken the activity by interferingtransmit information between ants. A comprehensive consideration ofthe economic and ecological value of M. alba shows that fallen leavesmight be a good resource to control red imported fire ant.

scholarly journals Sexual Dimorphism in Crowned Lemur Scent-Marking.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Elwell ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Stefano Vaglio
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Sexual Communication ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Volatile Components ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Resource Defense

Primates are traditionally considered to have a poor sense of smell. However, olfaction is important for non-human primates as demonstrated by conspicuous scent-marking behaviours in lemurs. We studied two family groups (N=4) of crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) housed at Colchester and Twycross zoos (UK) by combining behavioural observations and chemical analyses of scent-marks. We recorded observations of olfactory behaviours for 201 h using instantaneous scan sampling. We investigated the volatile compounds of ano-genital odour secretions using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Males scent-marked most frequently, displaying ano-genital marking for allomarking, head marking for countermarking and wrist marking in specific areas of the enclosure. Females displayed ano-genital marking predominantly on feeding devices. We detected a total of 38 volatile components in all male ano-genital scent-marks and 26 in all female samples of ano-genital odour secretions, including a series of esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, terpenes, volatile fatty acids and hydrocarbons that have been identified in odour profiles of other primates. In conclusion, we found sexual dimorphism in crowned lemurs. Male head and wrist marking behaviours might play defensive territorial functions, while ano-genital marking would be related to socio-sexual communication as chemical mate-guarding. Female ano-genital marking might be involved in resource defense.

scholarly journals Sexual Dimorphism in Crowned Lemur Scent-Marking

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2091
Author(s):  
Emily J. Elwell ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Stefano Vaglio
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Sexual Communication ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Volatile Components ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Resource Defense

Primates are traditionally considered to have a poor sense of smell. However, olfaction is important for non-human primates as demonstrated by conspicuous scent-marking behaviours in lemurs. We studied two pairs (n = 4) of crowned lemurs (Eulemur coronatus) housed at Colchester and Twycross zoos (UK) by combining behavioural observations and chemical analyses of scent-marks and glandular swabs. We recorded observations of olfactory behaviours for 201 h using instantaneous scan sampling. We investigated the volatile compounds of ano-genital odour secretions (n = 16) using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Males scent-marked most frequently, displaying ano-genital marking for allomarking, head marking for countermarking and wrist marking in specific areas of the enclosure. Females displayed ano-genital marking, predominantly on feeding devices. We detected a total of 38 volatile components in all male ano-genital scent-marks and 26 in all female samples of ano-genital odour secretions, including a series of esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, terpenes, volatile fatty acids and hydrocarbons that have been identified in odour profiles of other primates. In conclusion, we found sexual dimorphism in crowned lemur scent-marking. Male head and wrist marking behaviours might play defensive territorial functions, while ano-genital marking would be related to socio-sexual communication as chemical mate-guarding. Female ano-genital marking might be involved in resource defense.

scholarly journals Microbiota and Metabolite Profiling of Spoiled Spanish-Style Green Table Olives

Metabolites ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio de Castro ◽  
Antonio Sánchez ◽  
Antonio López-López ◽  
Amparo Cortés-Delgado ◽  
Eduardo Medina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequencing ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Table Olives ◽  
Olive Cultivars ◽  
High Throughput Dna Sequencing ◽  
Current Measuring ◽  
Dominant Bacteria

The aim of the present study was to assess the malodorous spoilages of Spanish-style green table olives through microbial and metabolite composition using current measuring techniques (e.g., high-throughput DNA sequencing, headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Under different alkaline and washing conditions, the spoilage fermentations were reproduced with Gordal and Manzanilla olive cultivars using a low salt concentration (71 g L−1 NaCl) in the initial brine. The degradation of lactic acid and significant increases in volatile fatty acids and phenols were found in all the spoiled samples in comparison with the unspoiled control samples. According to high-throughput DNA sequencing, Cardiobacteriaceae and Ruminococcus were the dominant bacteria in the spoiled samples. PLS regression and Pearson’s correlation coefficient analyses revealed positive and negative correlations among microbial communities, metabolites, and sensory spoilage descriptors. Notably, the “zapatera” descriptor was significantly associated with Propionibacterium, which was positively correlated with acetic acid, propionic acid, succinic acid, and methyl propanoate; while the “butyric” descriptor exhibited a significant positive relationship with the genus Ruminococcus, which gave an almost significant correlation with propionic and butyric acids.

scholarly journals Microbial Ecology Dynamics Reveal a Succession in the Core Microbiota Involved in the Ripening of Pasta Filata Caciocavallo Pugliese Cheese

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (19) ◽  
pp. 6243-6255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria De Pasquale ◽  
Raffaella Di Cagno ◽  
Solange Buchin ◽  
Maria De Angelis ◽  
Marco Gobbetti
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Ecology ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Volatile Component ◽  
Streptococcus Thermophilus ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Microbial Succession ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Core Microbiota ◽  
Pasta Filata

ABSTRACTPyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA targeting RNA, community-level physiological profiles made with Biolog EcoPlates, proteolysis, and volatile component (VOC) analyses were mainly used to characterize the manufacture and ripening of the pasta filata cheese Caciocavallo Pugliese. Plate counts revealed that cheese manufacture affected the microbial ecology. The results agreed with those from culture-independent approaches. As shown by urea-PAGE, reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and free-amino-acid (FAA) analyses, the extent of secondary proteolysis mainly increased after 30 to 45 days of ripening. VOCs and volatile free fatty acids (VFFA) were identified by a purge-and-trap method (PT) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. Except for aldehydes, the levels of most of VOCs and VFFA mainly increased from 30 to 45 days onwards. As shown through pyrosequencing analysis, raw cows' milk was contaminated byFirmicutes(53%),Proteobacteria(39%),Bacteroidetes(7.8%),Actinobacteria(0.06%), andFusobacteria(0.03%), with heterogeneity at the genus level. The primary starterStreptococcus thermophilusdominated the curd population. Other genera occurred at low incidence or sporadically. The microbial dynamics reflected on the overall physiological diversity. At 30 days, a microbial succession was clearly highlighted. The relative abundance ofStreptococcussp. and especiallySt. thermophilusdecreased, while that ofLactobacillus casei,Lactobacillussp., and especiallyLactobacillus paracaseiincreased consistently. Despite the lower relative abundance compared toSt. thermophilus, mesophilic lactobacilli were the only organisms positively correlated with the concentration of FAAs, area of hydrophilic peptide peaks, and several VOCs (e.g., alcohols, ketones, esters and all furans). This study showed that a core microbiota was naturally selected during middle ripening, which seemed to be the main factor responsible for cheese ripening.

scholarly journals Assessing urinary odours across the oestrous cycle in a mouse model using portable and benchtop gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 210172
Author(s):  
Jia Tang ◽  
Alice C. Poirier ◽  
Gwen Duytschaever ◽  
Laís A. A. Moreira ◽  
Omer Nevo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Vaginal Cytology

For female mammals, communicating the timing of ovulation is essential for reproduction. Olfactory communication via volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can play a key role. We investigated urinary VOCs across the oestrous cycle using laboratory mice. We assessed the oestrous stage through daily vaginal cytology and analysed urinary VOCs using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), testing a portable GC-MS against a benchtop system. We detected 65 VOCs from 40 samples stored in VOC traps and analysed on a benchtop GC-MS, and 15 VOCs from 90 samples extracted by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed on a portable GC-MS. Only three compounds were found in common between the two techniques. Urine collected from the fertile stages of the oestrous cycle had increased quantities of a few notable VOCs compared with urine from non-fertile stages. These VOCs may be indicators of fertility. However, we did not find significant differences in chemical composition among oestrous stages. It is possible that changes in VOC abundance were too small to be detected by our analytical methods. Overall, the use of VOC traps combined with benchtop GC-MS was the more successful of the two methods, yet portable GC-MS systems may still have utility for some in situ applications.

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