The scent of the others: chemical recognition in two distinct populations of the European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Bresciani ◽  
Federica Dendi ◽  
Sara Fornasiero ◽  
Marco Zuffi ◽  
Elena Cecchinelli
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Reproductive Season ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Chemical Recognition ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Whip Snake

AbstractIsolated populations of a given species may diverge from conspecifics for a certain series of traits. It is of particular interest when this divergence involves the signals and the related responses used by sexually reproducing animals to identify prospective mating partners. Using behavioural trials during reproductive season, we studied pheromone-mediated response between insular and mainland European whip snakes, Hierophis viridiflavus. Our results revealed that both insular and mainland males can utilise both homotypic and heterotypic chemical cues. However, while insular snakes did not show any preference between the two types of chemical cues, mainland males preferred homotypic odours. These results, though preliminarly, show the existence of asymmetry in the displayed behavioural patterns and support the idea that isolated populations may evolve differences in communication systems.

Chemosensory deficiency may render island-dwelling lizards more vulnerable to invasive predators

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Van Moorleghem ◽  
Katleen Huyghe ◽  
Raoul Van Damme
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Tongue Flick ◽  
Predator Detection ◽  
Invasive Predators ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Herpestes Auropunctatus ◽  
Scent Detection ◽  
Mammalian Predator ◽  
Whip Snake ◽  
Small Indian Mongoose

Abstract Newly introduced predators constitute a major threat to prey populations worldwide. Insular prey animals in particular often do not succeed in overcoming their naivety towards alien predators, making them specifically vulnerable. Why this is the case remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigate how the ability to detect and respond to predator chemical cues varies among populations of the Dalmatian wall lizard, Podarcis melisellensis. Lizards were sampled from five locations in south-eastern Croatia (one mainland location and four islands) that varied in the composition of their predator community. We observed the lizards’ behaviour in response to chemical cues of native saurophagous snakes (the Balkan whip snake, Hierophis gemonensis, and eastern Montpellier snake, Malpolon insignitus) and an introduced mammalian predator (the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus – a species held responsible for the loss of numerous insular reptile populations worldwide). Mainland lizards showed elevated tongue-flick rates (indicative of scent detection) as well as behaviours associated with distress in response to scents of both native and introduced predators. In sharp contrast, island lizards did not alter their behaviour when confronted with any of the predator cues. Alarmingly, even lizards from islands with native predators (both snakes and mammals) and from an island on which mongooses were introduced during the 1920s were non-responsive. This suggests that insular populations are chemosensorily deprived. As failure at the predator-detection level is often seen as the most damaging form of naivety, these results provide further insight into the mechanisms that render insular-living animals vulnerable to invasive species.

Is the reaction to chemical cues of predators affected by age or experience in fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra)?

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Ibáñez ◽  
Barbara A. Caspers ◽  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín ◽  
E. Tobias Krause
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Predator Recognition ◽  
Test Arena ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Chemical Recognition ◽  
Behavioural Reaction ◽  
Salamandra Salamandra ◽  
In Fire

Predation is one of the strongest forces driving natural selection. Predator success reduces future prey fitness to zero. Thus, recognition and avoidance of a potential predator is an essential fitness-relevant skill for prey. Being well equipped in the predator-prey arms race is highly adaptive. In this context we tested whether age and/or potential experience of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) affected their behaviour towards the chemical signature of a potential predator. We evaluated the space use of salamanders in a test arena with a shelter containing chemical cues from a predator (i.e., a rat) and a clean shelter. Our results demonstrate that naïve subadult fire salamanders do show a significant behavioural reaction towards rat odour. However, they do not avoid the chemical cues of the potential predator, but instead have a significant preference for the shelter with rat faeces. In contrast to this, both the naïve adult and wild-caught adult fire salamanders showed neither a preference nor an avoidance of rat scent. These results could suggest a role of age in odour-based predator recognition in salamanders. Similarly, predator recognition through chemical cues could be more important early in life when the young fire salamanders are more vulnerable to predatory attacks and less important in other life stages when salamanders are less subjected to predation. In conclusion, future studies considering wild-caught subadults should disentangle the importance of previous experience for predator chemical recognition.

Chemosensory species recognition may reduce the frequency of hybridization between native and introduced lizards

2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gabirot ◽  
A. M. Castilla ◽  
P. López ◽  
J. Martín
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Reproductive Decisions ◽  
Chemical Recognition ◽  
Island Endemics ◽  
Podarcis Hispanica ◽  
Interspecific Recognition ◽  
The Common ◽  
Tongue Flicks

The introduction of alien species to islands by human activity can cause catastrophic consequences for small populations of island endemics. Hybridization between the endangered and endemic insular lizard Podarcis atrata (Boscá, 1916) from the Columbretes Islands (Mediterranean, Spain) and the common mainland lizard Podarcis hispanica (Steindachner, 1870) could potentially occur because mainland haplotypes have already been detected in the islands, the two species are closely genetically related, and the frequency of visitors to these islands is increasing. However, reproductive decisions of lizards are often mediated by species recognition mechanisms based on chemical cues. On the basis of this observation, even if some mainland P. hispanica lizards were introduced to the islands, interspecific recognition might make rare an eventual hybridization with the insular P. atrata. We examined interspecific chemical recognition between the insular P. atrata and the mainland P. hispanica. Our results showed that lizards of both sexes responded more strongly (i.e., directed a significantly higher number of tongue flicks) to scents of conspecific individuals than to scents of heterospecifics. Chemical recognition of conspecifics by endemic island P. atrata lizards may reduce the occurrence of hybridization with introduced mainland P. hispanica lizards and protect the insular gene pool.

Pheromone trailing in male European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Zuffi ◽  
Elisa Bresciani ◽  
Sara Fornasiero ◽  
Federica Dendi
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Communication ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Sexual Discrimination ◽  
Pheromone Trails ◽  
Y Maze ◽  
Communication Ability ◽  
Pheromone Trail ◽  
Whip Snake

Abstract The ability of snakes to follow conspecific pheromone trails during the breeding season is of primary importance to locate potential mates, and also to elicit and maintain courtship or other reproductive behaviours, such as agonistic behaviour. Despite the recent increased knowledge on snake chemical ecology, yet little information is available on European species and nothing is known about chemical communication in European colubrid species. The aim of this study was to characterise the pheromone-mediated trailing behaviour in male European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus. When tested in trailing experiments using a Y-maze, male European whip snakes displayed the ability to trail both male and female pheromones when presented versus a blank arm of the maze. Moreover, adult males followed the female pheromone trail when presented simultaneously with the male trail. Our study demonstrated that male Hierophis viridiflavus rely on chemical cues for the location and the sexual discrimination of conspecifics during the breeding season. Convergence between different mating systems and chemical communication ability in distantly related species is discussed.

scholarly journals Interpopulational and seasonal variation in the chemical signals of the lizardGallotia galloti

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto García-Roa ◽  
Rodrigo Megía-Palma ◽  
Jesús Ortega ◽  
Manuel Jara ◽  
Pilar López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Reproductive Season ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Chemical Profile ◽  
Interpopulational Variation ◽  
Chemical Profiles ◽  
Femoral Gland Secretions ◽  
Interpopulational Variability

Communicative traits are strikingly diverse and may vary among populations of the same species. Within a population, these traits may also display seasonal variation. Chemical signals play a key role in the communication of many taxa. However, we still know far too little about chemical communication in some vertebrate groups. In lizards, only a few studies have examined interpopulational variation in the composition of chemical cues and signals and only one study has explored the seasonal effects. Here we sampled three subspecies of the Tenerife lizards (Gallotia galloti) and analyze the lipophilic fraction of their femoral gland secretions to characterize the potential interpopulational variation in the chemical signals. In addition, we assessed whether composition of these secretions differed between the reproductive and the non-reproductive season. We analyzed variations in both the overall chemical profile and the abundance of the two main compounds (cholesterol and vitamin E). Our results show interpopulational and seasonal differences inG. gallotiachemical profiles. These findings are in accordance with the high interpopulational variability of compounds observed in lizard chemical signals and show that their composition is not only shaped by selective factors linked to reproductive season.

scholarly journals Flat lizard female mimics use sexual deception in visual but not chemical signals

2009 ◽  
Vol 276 (1662) ◽  
pp. 1585-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J Whiting ◽  
Jonathan K Webb ◽  
J. Scott Keogh
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Animal Communication ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Single Mode ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Visual Signals ◽  
Reproductive Tactics ◽  
Chemical Recognition ◽  
Female Mimicry ◽  
Risk Of Predation

Understanding what constrains signalling and maintains signal honesty is a central theme in animal communication. Clear cases of dishonest signalling, and the conditions under which they are used, represent an important avenue for improved understanding of animal communication systems. Female mimicry, when certain males take on the appearance of females, is most commonly a male alternative reproductive tactic that is condition-dependent. A number of adaptive explanations for female mimicry have been proposed including avoiding the costs of aggression, gaining an advantage in combat, sneaking copulations with females on the territories of other males, gaining physiological benefits and minimizing the risk of predation. Previous studies of female mimicry have focused on a single mode of communication, although most animals communicate using multiple signals. Male Augrabies flat lizards adopt alternative reproductive tactics in which some males (she-males) mimic the visual appearance of females. We experimentally tested in a wild population whether she-males are able to mimic females using both visual and chemical signals. We tested chemical recognition in the field by removing scent and relabelling females and she-males with either male or female scent. At a distance, typical males (he-males) could not distinguish she-males from females using visual signals, but during close encounters, he-males correctly determined the gender of she-males using chemical signals. She-males are therefore able to deceive he-males using visual but not chemical signals. To effectively deceive he-males, she-males avoid close contact with he-males during which chemical cues would reveal their deceit. This strategy is probably adaptive, because he-males are aggressive and territorial; by mimicking females, she-males are able to move about freely and gain access to females on the territories of resident males.

Australian tadpoles do not avoid chemical cues from invasive cane toads (Bufo marinus)

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattias Hagman ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Bufo Marinus ◽  
Sexual Signals ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Collateral Effects ◽  
Local Species ◽  
Intraspecific Communication ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Significant Chemical

If invasive species are phylogenetically distinct from native taxa, divergence in intraspecific communication systems may allow control via methods that invoke behavioural responses by the invasives but not by local species. Previous work has exploited sexual signals in this respect (e.g. species-specific mate-attraction pheromones) but there is equal potential to exploit non-sexual signals, such as chemically mediated behavioural responses of anuran larvae. Cane toads (Bufo marinus), originally from Central and South America, are creating major ecological problems during their invasion through Australia. In an earlier study, we showed that cane toad tadpoles are strongly repulsed by chemical cues from crushed conspecifics, suggesting that these animals possess significant chemical communication systems. To be useful in control of toads, such a response would need to be restricted to cane toads rather than all anurans. In laboratory trials, we detected only minor behavioural responses of six native Australian anuran species to chemical cues from cane toads. Native tadpoles (both hylids and myobatrachids) either ignored the stimulus, or tended to approach it rather than to avoid it. These results are encouraging for the potential use of toad-specific chemicals to manipulate the behaviour of tadpoles in the field, with few collateral effects on native Australian anurans.

Geographic song variation within and between populations and subspecies of the rufous bristlebird, Dasyornis broadbenti

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel James Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Song Variation ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Temporal Features ◽  
Continuous Population

This work investigated whether the songs of the rufous bristlebird, Dasyornis broadbenti, vary between populations that have become isolated through habitat clearance, in a similar way to that found between island populations of other bird species, separated by ocean. In addition, the extent of song variation between the two extant subspecies of D. broadbenti was investigated. The nature of song elements did not differ between isolated sites within each subspecies' distribution more than between sites sampled within continuous populations. However, multivariate analyses of spectral and temporal features suggested that these features differed between isolated populations more than within continuous populations. In addition, both the nature of song elements and spectral and temporal features differed significantly between the two extant subspecies of D. broadbenti. These taxonomic analyses of song thus supported recent revisions of the subspecific boundaries of D. broadbenti. While there was some evidence that temporal and spectral song features varied more between isolated populations than within a continuous population, it was difficult to eliminate the effect of distance on song variation. Although evidence for song variation as a result of isolation was not strong for this species, clearance of the habitat utilised by D. broadbenti is relatively recent. The suggestion that communication systems of animal populations can be disrupted following isolation through habitat clearance is one that warrants further investigation, especially in taxa with older histories of fragmentation. This study also highlighted the potential for using behavioural information to assist with taxonomic investigations.

scholarly journals Coercion in the Evolution of Plant–Microbe Communication: A Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 789-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Rowe ◽  
J. S. Norman ◽  
M. L. Friesen
Keyword(s):  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectory ◽  
Microbe Interactions ◽  
Interkingdom Communication

Plants and microbes are dependent on chemical signals as a means of interkingdom communication. There are two predicted paths for the evolution of these signals. Ritualization is the oft-assumed pathway for the evolution of plant–microbe communication systems. In this process, chemical signals, which benefit both receiver and sender, evolve from chemical cues, which benefit only the receiver. However, plant–microbe signaling may evolve from coercive interactions as well, a process known as sensory manipulation. Here, we aim to highlight the prevalence of coercive interactions and discuss sensory manipulation in the context of plant–microbe interactions. We present two examples of stabilized coercion: microbial coercion of plants via the release of phytohormones and plant coercion of microbes via manipulation of quorum-sensing compounds. Furthermore, we provide an evolutionary framework for the emergence of signaling from coercive plant–microbe interactions through the process of sensory manipulation. We hope that researchers will recognize the relevance of coercive interactions in plant–microbe systems and consider sensory manipulation as a plausible evolutionary trajectory for the emergence of plant–microbe signaling.

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