| Nestmate and task cues are influenced and encoded differently within ant cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19263166 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are primarily antidesiccation agents, but they also play crucial roles in intra- and interspecific communication, especially among social Hymenoptera. The complex CHC profiles of social insects have often been compared among individuals, kin, nestmates, colonies, and species. In the ant Formica exsecta, only the (Z)-9-alkene part of the CHC profile encodes the nestmate signal. Here, we showed that the other major part of the CHC profile with n-alkane components is influenced strongly by the task a worker performs (foraging vs nonforaging). This part of the profile is independent of the nestmate signal. Therefore, the CHC profile of F. exsecta workers is composed of two independent parts: a colony-specific (Z)-9-alkene profile under genetic influence and an environmentally influenced task-related n-alkane profile. The dissociating of the CHC profile into two or more independent parts has implications for the analysis and interpretation of past and future CHC studies. |
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Authors:
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Stephen J Martin; Falko P Drijfhout |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2009-03-05 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of chemical ecology Volume: 35 ISSN: 1573-1561 ISO Abbreviation: J. Chem. Ecol. Publication Date: 2009 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-03-13 Completed Date: 2009-06-23 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7505563 Medline TA: J Chem Ecol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 368-74 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S102TN, UK. s.j.martin@sheffield.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Alkanes
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chemistry Alkenes / chemistry Animal Communication Animals Ants / physiology* Cues* Hydrocarbons / chemistry* Nesting Behavior* Species Specificity |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Alkanes; 0/Alkenes; 0/Hydrocarbons |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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