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Russell AC, Kenna MA, Huynh AV, Rice AM. Microbial DNA extraction method for avian feces and preen oil from diverse species. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70220. [PMID: 39224152 PMCID: PMC11368492 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
As DNA sequencing technology continues to rapidly improve, studies investigating the microbial communities of host organisms (i.e., microbiota) are becoming not only more popular but also more financially accessible. Across many taxa, microbiomes can have important impacts on organismal health and fitness. To evaluate the microbial community composition of a particular microbiome, microbial DNA must be successfully extracted. Fecal samples are often easy to collect and are a good source of gut microbial DNA. Additionally, interest in the avian preen gland microbiome is rapidly growing, due to the importance of preen oil for many aspects of avian life. Microbial DNA extractions from avian fecal and preen oil samples present multiple challenges, however. Here, we describe a modified PrepMan Ultra Sample Preparation Reagent microbial DNA extraction method that is less expensive than other commonly used methodologies and is highly effective for both fecal and preen oil samples collected from a broad range of avian species. We expect our method will facilitate microbial DNA extractions from multiple avian microbiome reservoirs, which have previously proved difficult and expensive. Our method therefore increases the feasibility of future studies of avian host microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin C. Russell
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Margaret A. Kenna
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alex Van Huynh
- Department of BiologyDeSales UniversityCenter ValleyPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Amber M. Rice
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
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Honorary Lifetime Membership Award: Ellen D. Ketterson. Am Nat 2023; 201:ii-iii. [PMID: 36848520 DOI: 10.1086/723172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
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Whittaker DJ, Atyam A, Burroughs NA, Greenberg JM, Hagey TJ, Novotny MV, Soini HA, Theis KR, Van Laar TA, Slade JWG. Effects of short-term experimental manipulation of captive social environment on uropygial gland microbiome and preen oil volatile composition. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1027399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionAvian preen oil, secreted by the uropygial gland, is an important source of volatile compounds that convey information about the sender’s identity and quality, making preen oil useful for the recognition and assessment of potential mates and rivals. Although intrinsic factors such as hormone levels, genetic background, and diet can affect preen oil volatile compound composition, many of these compounds are not the products of the animal’s own metabolic processes, but rather those of odor-producing symbiotic microbes. Social behavior affects the composition of uropygial microbial communities, as physical contact results in microbe sharing. We experimentally manipulated social interactions in captive dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) to assess the relative influence of social interactions, subspecies, and sex on uropygial gland microbial composition and the resulting preen oil odor profiles.MethodsWe captured 24 birds at Mountain Lake Biological Station in Virginia, USA, including birds from two seasonally sympatric subspecies – one resident, one migratory. We housed them in an outdoor aviary in three phases of social configurations: first in same-sex, same-subspecies flocks, then in male-female pairs, and finally in the original flocks. Using samples taken every four days of the experiment, we characterized their uropygial gland microbiome through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and their preen oil volatile compounds via GC-MS.ResultsWe predicted that if social environment was the primary driver of uropygial gland microbiome composition, and if microbiome composition in turn affected preen oil volatile profiles, then birds housed together would become more similar over time. Our results did not support this hypothesis, instead showing that sex and subspecies were stronger predictors of microbiome composition. We observed changes in volatile compounds after the birds had been housed in pairs, which disappeared after they were moved back into flocks, suggesting that hormonal changes related to breeding condition were the most important factor in these patterns.DiscussionAlthough early life social environment of nestlings and long-term social relationships have been shown to be important in shaping uropygial gland microbial communities, our study suggests that shorter-term changes in social environment do not have a strong effect on uropygial microbiomes and the resulting preen oil volatile compounds.
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Gvoždíková Javůrková V, Doležal P, Fraňková A, Horák M, Chodová D, Langrová I, Tůmová E. Effects of genotype, sex, and feed restriction on the biochemical composition of chicken preen gland secretions and their implications for commercial poultry production. J Anim Sci 2022; 101:6956961. [PMID: 36547363 PMCID: PMC9923712 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Preen gland secretions spread on the feathers contain various chemical compounds dominated by fatty acids (FAs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals may significantly affect plumage condition, microbial and ectoparasitic load on feathers, and chemical communication of birds. However, how chemical composition of preen secretions varies in commercially produced chickens with respect to their genotype, sex, and feeding regime remain largely unknown, as well as the welfare implications for farmed poultry. We found that while polyunsaturated fatty acids in chicken preen secretions differed significantly with genotype (P << 0.001), saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids varied with genotype-dependent preen gland volume (P < 0.01). Chickens of meat-type fast-growing Ross 308 genotype had reduced preen gland volume and lower proportions of all FA categories in their preen secretions compared with dual-purpose slow-growing ISA Dual chickens. A total of 34 FAs and 77 VOCs with tens of unique FAs were detected in preen secretions of both genotypes. While differences in the relative proportion of 6 of the 10 most dominant VOCs in chicken preen gland secretions were related to genotype (P < 0.001), only 1 of the 10 most dominant VOCs showed a sex effect (P < 0.01), and only 2 of the 10 most dominant VOCs showed a genotype-dependent effect of feed restriction (P < 0.05). Feed restriction had no effect on the relative proportion of any of the FAs in chicken preen gland secretions. Moreover, we found that meat-type Ross 308 preen secretions were dominated by VOCs, which are proven attractants for poultry red mite and may also increase infestation with other ectoparasites and negatively influence overall odor-mediated intraspecific communication and welfare. This study shows that no feeding management, but long-term genetic selection in commercial breeding may be the main cause of the differences in the biochemistry and function of chicken preen secretions. This might have negative consequences for chemosignaling, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial potential of preen secretions and can lead to increased susceptibility to ectoparasites, plumage care disorders, and can affect the overall condition, welfare, and productivity of commercially bred chickens. Selection-induced preen gland impairments must therefore be considered and compensated by proper management of the chicken farm and increased care about animal well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petr Doležal
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic,Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Fraňková
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Horák
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Darina Chodová
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Langrová
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Tůmová
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague 6 - Suchdol, Czech Republic
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Talbott KM, Becker DJ, Soini HA, Higgins BJ, Novotny MV, Ketterson ED. Songbird preen oil odour reflects haemosporidian parasite load. Anim Behav 2022; 188:147-155. [PMID: 35756157 PMCID: PMC9223275 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Investigating the impact of parasitism on host phenotype is key to understanding parasite transmission ecology, host behavioural ecology and host-parasite coevolution. Previous studies have provided evidence that avian odour is one such phenotypic trait, as mosquitoes that vector the haemosporidian blood parasite Plasmodium tend to prefer birds that are already infected. Preen oil is a major source of avian odour, yet studies to date have not identified differences in preen oil odour based on the presence or absence of haemosporidian infection. Because preen oil can vary with physiological dynamics, we predicted that the composition of preen oil odours might vary according to parasite load, rather than solely by the presence or absence of infection. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to characterize the composition of volatile compounds in preen oil taken from female dark-eyed juncos, Junco hyemalis carolinensis, and asked whether their composition varied with relative haemosporidian parasite load, which we assessed using quantitative PCR. We identified a subset of volatile compounds (a 'blend') and two specific compounds that varied with increasing parasite load. Importantly, the quantity of these compounds did not vary based on parasite presence or absence, suggesting that birds with low parasite loads might be phenotypically indistinguishable from uninfected birds. The volatile blend associated with parasite load also varied with sampling date, suggesting a possible seasonal relapse of chronic infections triggered by shifts in junco host reproductive state. Furthermore, we found a positive relationship between parasite load and a volatile blend shown in a previous study to predict reproductive success in juncos. This is the first study to demonstrate quantitative differences in avian host odour based on haemosporidian parasite load. Our findings highlight the importance of focusing on parasite load, rather than solely presence or absence, in investigating host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. M. Talbott
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A
| | - D. J. Becker
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, U.S.A
| | - H. A. Soini
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A
| | - B. J. Higgins
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A
| | - M. V. Novotny
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A
| | - E. D. Ketterson
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, U.S.A
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Liu H, Yang Z, He Y, Yang Q, Tang Q, Yang Z, Qi J, Hu Q, Bai L, Li L. Metabolic Profiling Reveals That the Olfactory Cues in the Duck Uropygial Gland Potentially Act as Sex Pheromones. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040413. [PMID: 35203121 PMCID: PMC8868514 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary For birds, the uropygial gland is a special organ. We believe that its secretion can be used as a pheromone between the sexes to play a role in mate selection and mating. Therefore, we studied the chemical composition of duck uropygial gland secretions and the differences between males and females. After a series of screenings, 24 different volatile metabolites were obtained in our experiment. On this basis, five extremely significant volatile metabolites were screened out—significantly more males than females. The results show that these volatile substances are potential sex pheromone substances, which may be the critical olfactory clues for birds to choose mates. Our results lay the foundation for further research on whether uropygial gland secretion affects duck reproduction and production. Abstract The exchange of information between animals is crucial for maintaining social relations, individual survival, and reproduction, etc. The uropygial gland is a particular secretion gland found in birds. We speculated that uropygial gland secretions might act as a chemical signal responsible for sexual communication. We employed non-targeted metabolomic technology through liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to identifying duck uropygial gland secretions. We observed 11,311 and 14,321 chemical substances in the uropygial gland secretion for positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Based on their relative contents, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that gender significantly affects the metabolite composition of the duck uropygial gland. A total of 3831 and 4510 differential metabolites were further identified between the two sexes at the positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Of them, 139 differential metabolites were finally annotated. Among the 80 differential metabolites that reached an extremely significant difference (p < 0.01), we identified 24 volatile substances. Moreover, we further demonstrated that five kinds of volatile substances are highly repeatable in all testing ducks, including picolinic acid, 3-Hydroxypicolinic acid, indoleacetaldehyde, 3-hydroxymethylglutaric acid, and 3-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid. All these substances are significantly higher in males than in females, and their functions are involved in the reproduction processes of birds. Our data implied that these volatile substances act as sex pheromones and may be crucial olfactory clues for mate selection between birds. Our findings laid the foundation for future research on whether uropygial gland secretion can affect ducks’ reproduction and production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Liang Li
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-139-8160-4574
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Grieves LA, Gilles M, Cuthill IC, Székely T, MacDougall-Shackleton EA, Caspers BA. Olfactory camouflage and communication in birds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1193-1209. [PMID: 35128775 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Smell is a sensory modality that is rarely considered in birds, but evidence is mounting that olfaction is an important aspect of avian behaviour and ecology. The uropygial gland produces an odoriferous secretion (preen oil) that can differ seasonally and between the sexes. These differences are hypothesized to function in olfactory camouflage, i.e. minimizing detection by nest predators (olfactory crypsis hypothesis), and/or intraspecific olfactory communication, particularly during breeding (sex semiochemical hypothesis). However, evidence for seasonal and sex differences in preen oil is mixed, with some studies finding differences and others not, and direct evidence for the putative function(s) of seasonal variation and sex differences in preen oil remains limited. We conducted a systematic review of the evidence for such changes in preen oil chemical composition, finding seasonal differences in 95% of species (57/60 species in 35 studies) and sex differences in 47% of species (28/59 species in 46 studies). We then conducted phylogenetic comparative analyses using data from 59 bird species to evaluate evidence for both the olfactory crypsis and sex semiochemical hypotheses. Seasonal differences were more likely in the incubating than non-incubating sex in ground-nesting species, but were equally likely regardless of incubation strategy in non-ground-nesting species. This result supports the olfactory crypsis hypothesis, if ground nesters are more vulnerable to olfactorily searching predators than non-ground nesters. Sex differences were more likely in species with uniparental than biparental incubation and during breeding than non-breeding, consistent with both the olfactory crypsis and sex semiochemical hypotheses. At present, the data do not allow us to disentangle these two hypotheses, but we provide recommendations that will enable researchers to do so.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne A Grieves
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M4, Canada
| | - Marc Gilles
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany
| | - Innes C Cuthill
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, U.K.,Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem ter 1, Debrecen, H-4032, Hungary
| | | | - Barbara A Caspers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany
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Díaz-Siefer P, Tapia-Gatica J, Martínez-Harms J, Bergmann J, Celis-Diez JL. A larval aggregation pheromone as foraging cue for insectivorous birds. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210360. [PMID: 34582735 PMCID: PMC8478522 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although birds have traditionally been considered anosmic, increasing evidence indicates that olfaction plays an important role in the foraging behaviours of insectivorous birds. Recent studies have shown that birds can exploit herbivore-induced plant volatiles and sexual pheromones of adult insects to locate their prey. Many insectivorous birds prey on immature insects, providing relevant ecosystem services as pest regulators in natural and agricultural ecosystems. We asked whether birds could rely on chemical cues emitted by the immature stages of insects to prey on them. To address this question, we performed field experiments to evaluate if insectivorous birds can detect the aggregation pheromone produced by the larvae of the carpenter worm, Chilecomadia valdiviana. Groups of five artificial larvae were placed in branches of 72 adult trees in a remnant fragment of a sclerophyllous forest in central Chile. Each grouping of larvae contained a rubber septum loaded with either larval pheromone as treatment or solvent alone as control. We found that the number of larvae damaged by bird pecks was significantly higher in groups with dispensers containing the larval extract than in control groups. Our results show that birds can rely on immature insect-derived chemical cues used for larvae aggregation to prey on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Díaz-Siefer
- Centro Regional de Investigación e Innovación para la Sostenibilidad de la Agricultura y los Territorios Rurales, CERES, Quillota, Chile
- Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota, Chile
| | - Jaime Tapia-Gatica
- Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota, Chile
| | | | - Jan Bergmann
- Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Juan L. Celis-Diez
- Escuela de Agronomía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota, Chile
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Odor preferences in hybrid chickadees: implications for reproductive isolation and asymmetric introgression. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03069-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Whittaker DJ, Hagelin JC. Female-Based Patterns and Social Function in Avian Chemical Communication. J Chem Ecol 2020; 47:43-62. [PMID: 33103230 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01230-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Much of the growing interest in avian chemical signals has focused on the role of kin recognition or mate attraction, often with an emphasis on males, with uropygial gland secretions perhaps providing information about an individual's identity and quality. Yet, data collected to date suggest sexual dimorphism in uropygial glands and secretions are often emphasized in female, rather than in male birds. That is, when a sexual difference occurs (often during the breeding season only), it is the female that typically exhibits one of three patterns: (1) a larger uropygial gland, (2) a greater abundance of volatile or semi-volatile preen oil compounds and/or (3) greater diversity of preen oil compounds or associated microbes. These patterns fit a majority of birds studied to date (23 of 30 chemically dimorphic species exhibit a female emphasis). Multiple species that do not fit are confounded by a lack of data for seasonal effects or proper quantitative measures of chemical compounds. We propose several social functions for these secretions in female-based patterns, similar to those reported in mammals, but which are largely unstudied in birds. These include: (1) intersexual advertisement of female receptivity or quality, including priming effects on male physiology, (2) intrasexual competition, including scent marking and reproductive suppression or (3) parental behaviors, such as parent-offspring recognition and chemical protection of eggs and nestlings. Revisiting the gaps of chemical studies to quantify the existence of female social chemosignals and any fitness benefit(s) during breeding are potentially fruitful but overlooked areas of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Whittaker
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Julie C Hagelin
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
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Netzker T, Shepherdson EMF, Zambri MP, Elliot MA. Bacterial Volatile Compounds: Functions in Communication, Cooperation, and Competition. Annu Rev Microbiol 2020; 74:409-430. [PMID: 32667838 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-011320-015542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria produce a multitude of volatile compounds. While the biological functions of these deceptively simple molecules are unknown in many cases, for compounds that have been characterized, it is clear that they serve impressively diverse purposes. Here, we highlight recent studies that are uncovering the volatile repertoire of bacteria, and the functional relevance and impact of these molecules. We present work showing the ability of volatile compounds to modulate nutrient availability in the environment; alter the growth, development, and motility of bacteria and fungi; influence protist and arthropod behavior; and impact plant and animal health. We further discuss the benefits associated with using volatile compounds for communication and competition, alongside the challenges of studying these molecules and their functional roles. Finally, we address the opportunities these compounds present from commercial, clinical, and agricultural perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Netzker
- Department of Biology and Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada; , , ,
| | - Evan M F Shepherdson
- Department of Biology and Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada; , , ,
| | - Matthew P Zambri
- Department of Biology and Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada; , , ,
| | - Marie A Elliot
- Department of Biology and Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada; , , ,
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Whittaker DJ, Slowinski SP, Greenberg JM, Alian O, Winters AD, Ahmad MM, Burrell MJE, Soini HA, Novotny MV, Ketterson ED, Theis KR. Experimental evidence that symbiotic bacteria produce chemical cues in a songbird. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.202978. [PMID: 31537652 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.202978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Symbiotic microbes that inhabit animal scent glands can produce volatile compounds used as chemical signals by the host animal. Though several studies have demonstrated correlations between scent gland bacterial community structure and host animal odour profiles, none have systematically demonstrated a causal relationship. In birds, volatile compounds in preen oil secreted by the uropygial gland serve as chemical cues and signals. Here, we tested whether manipulating the uropygial gland microbial community affects chemical profiles in the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis). We found an effect of antibiotic treatment targeting the uropygial gland on both bacterial and volatile profiles. In a second experiment, we cultured bacteria from junco preen oil, and found that all of the cultivars produced at least one volatile compound common in junco preen oil, and that most cultivars produced multiple preen oil volatiles. In both experiments, we identified experimentally generated patterns in specific volatile compounds previously shown to predict junco reproductive success. Together, our data provide experimental support for the hypothesis that symbiotic bacteria produce behaviourally relevant volatile compounds within avian chemical cues and signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Whittaker
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Samuel P Slowinski
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Jonathan M Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Osama Alian
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Andrew D Winters
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Madison M Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Mikayla J E Burrell
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102, USA.,Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102, USA
| | - Helena A Soini
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102, USA.,Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102, USA
| | - Milos V Novotny
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102, USA.,Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-7102, USA
| | - Ellen D Ketterson
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Kevin R Theis
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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Van Huynh A, Rice AM. Conspecific olfactory preferences and interspecific divergence in odor cues in a chickadee hybrid zone. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:9671-9683. [PMID: 31534684 PMCID: PMC6745874 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how mating cues promote reproductive isolation upon secondary contact is important in describing the speciation process in animals. Divergent chemical cues have been shown to act in reproductive isolation across many animal taxa. However, such cues have been overlooked in avian speciation, particularly in passerines, in favor of more traditional signals such as song and plumage. Here, we aim to test the potential for odor to act as a mate choice cue, and therefore contribute to premating reproductive isolation between the black-capped (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina chickadee (P. carolinensis) in eastern Pennsylvania hybrid zone populations. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we document significant species differences in uropygial gland oil chemistry, especially in the ratio of ester to nonester compounds. We also show significant preferences for conspecific over heterospecific odor cues in wild chickadees using a Y-maze design. Our results suggest that odor may be an overlooked but important mating cue in these chickadees, potentially promoting premating reproductive isolation. We further discuss several promising avenues for future research in songbird olfactory communication and speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Van Huynh
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPAUSA
| | - Amber M. Rice
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPAUSA
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15
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Cozzarolo CS, Sironi N, Glaizot O, Pigeault R, Christe P. Sex-biased parasitism in vector-borne disease: Vector preference? PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216360. [PMID: 31048933 PMCID: PMC6497283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex-biased infections are a recurrent observation in vertebrates. In many species, males are more parasitized than females. Two potentially complementary mechanisms are often suggested to explain this pattern: sexual differences in susceptibility mainly caused by the effect of sex hormones on immunity and differential exposure to parasites. Exposure is mostly a consequence of host behavioural traits, but vector-borne parasitic infections involve another degree of complexity due to the active role of vectors in transmission. Blood-sucking insects may make choices based on cues produced by hosts. Regarding malaria, several studies highlighted a male-biased infection by Plasmodium sp in great tits (Parus major). We hypothesize that the mosquito vector, Culex pipiens, might at least partially cause this bias by being more attracted to male birds. Intrinsic variation associated to bird sex would explain a preference of mosquitoes for males. To test this hypothesis, we provide uninfected mosquitoes with a choice between uninfected male and female nestlings. Mosquito choice is assessed by sex typing of the ingested blood. We did not observe any preference for a given sex. This result does not support our prediction of a preference of mosquitoes for male great tits during the nestling period. In conclusion, mosquitoes do not seem to have an intrinsic preference for male nestlings. However, sexually divergent traits (e.g. behaviour, odour, metabolic rate) present in adults may play a role in the attraction of mosquitoes and should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Sironi
- Département d’Ecologie & Evolution, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Suisse
| | - Olivier Glaizot
- Département d’Ecologie & Evolution, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Suisse
- Musée cantonal de zoologie, Lausanne, Suisse
| | - Romain Pigeault
- Département d’Ecologie & Evolution, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Suisse
| | - Philippe Christe
- Département d’Ecologie & Evolution, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Suisse
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16
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Whittaker DJ, Kuzel M, Burrell MJ, Soini HA, Novotny MV, DuVal EH. Chemical profiles reflect heterozygosity and seasonality in a tropical lekking passerine bird. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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17
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Reproductive success related to uropygial gland volume varies with abundance of conspecifics in barn swallows Hirundo rustica. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2598-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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18
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Fracasso G, Tuliozi B, Hoi H, Griggio M. Can house sparrows recognize familiar or kin-related individuals by scent? Curr Zool 2018; 65:53-59. [PMID: 30697238 PMCID: PMC6347097 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, higher attention has been paid to olfactory perception in birds. As a consequence, a handful of avian species have been discovered to use olfaction in different contexts. Nevertheless, we still have a very limited knowledge about the use of odor cues in avian social life, particularly, in the case of songbirds. Here, we investigate if female house sparrows Passer domesticus show any preference for the odor of kin and nonkin conspecifics and we also test a possible role of familiarity based on male scent in female choice. We performed the experiment with captive birds twice, during the nonbreeding and breeding seasons. Our results show that female house sparrows strongly avoided the odor of unrelated familiar (UF) males, both in the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Our results suggest recognition for olfactory stimuli related to familiarity and kinship. We suggest that avoidance for UF males is associated with previous experience in this species. Also, we provided further evidence to the use of olfaction in passerine species by using a new experimental setup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Fracasso
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Biology Department, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy, and
| | - Beniamino Tuliozi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy, and
| | - Herbert Hoi
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna, Savoyenstrasse 1/A, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matteo Griggio
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy, and
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19
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Krause ET, Bischof HJ, Engel K, Golüke S, Maraci Ö, Mayer U, Sauer J, Caspers BA. Olfaction in the Zebra Finch ( Taeniopygia guttata ): What Is Known and Further Perspectives. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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20
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Whittaker DJ, Rosvall KA, Slowinski SP, Soini HA, Novotny MV, Ketterson ED. Songbird chemical signals reflect uropygial gland androgen sensitivity and predict aggression: implications for the role of the periphery in chemosignaling. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2017; 204:5-15. [PMID: 29063285 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-017-1221-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chemical signals can provide useful information to potential mates and rivals. The production mechanisms of these signals are poorly understood in birds, despite emerging evidence that volatile compounds from preen oil may serve as chemosignals. Steroid hormones, including testosterone (T), may influence the production of these signals, yet variation in circulating T only partly accounts for this variation. We hypothesized that odor is a T-mediated signal of an individual's phenotype, regulated in part by androgen sensitivity in the uropygial gland. We quantified natural variation in chemosignals, T, uropygial gland androgen sensitivity, and aggressive behavior in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). The interaction between circulating T and androgen receptor transcript abundance significantly correlated with volatile concentrations in male, but not female, preen oil. In both sexes, odorant variables correlated with aggressive response to an intruder. Our results suggest that preen oil volatiles could function as signals of aggressive intent, and, at least in males, may be regulated by local androgen receptor signaling in the uropygial gland. Because these behavioral and chemical traits have been linked with reproductive success, local regulation of androgen sensitivity in the periphery has the potential to be a target of selection in the evolution of avian olfactory signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Whittaker
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, 567 Wilson Rd. Room 1441, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Kimberly A Rosvall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Samuel P Slowinski
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Helena A Soini
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Milos V Novotny
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Ellen D Ketterson
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
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21
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Gomes ACR, Funghi C, Soma M, Sorenson MD, Cardoso GC. Multimodal signalling in estrildid finches: song, dance and colour are associated with different ecological and life‐history traits. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1336-1346. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. C. R. Gomes
- CIBIO – Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Campus Agrário de Vairão Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
| | - C. Funghi
- CIBIO – Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Campus Agrário de Vairão Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
| | - M. Soma
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | | | - G. C. Cardoso
- CIBIO – Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Campus Agrário de Vairão Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
- Behavioural Ecology Group Department of Biology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Ø Denmark
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22
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Rossi M, Marfull R, Golüke S, Komdeur J, Korsten P, Caspers BA. Begging blue tit nestlings discriminate between the odour of familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Rossi
- Department of Animal Behaviour Bielefeld University Bielefeld Germany
- School of Life Sciences University of Sussex Falmer Brighton UK
| | - Reinaldo Marfull
- Behavioural Physiology and Ecology Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Golüke
- Department of Animal Behaviour Bielefeld University Bielefeld Germany
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural Physiology and Ecology Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Peter Korsten
- Department of Animal Behaviour Bielefeld University Bielefeld Germany
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23
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Moreno-Rueda G. Preen oil and bird fitness: a critical review of the evidence. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 92:2131-2143. [PMID: 28231637 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The uropygial gland is a holocrine complex exclusive to birds that produces an oleaginous secretion (preen oil) whose function is still debated. Herein, I examine critically the evidence for the many hypotheses of potential functions of this gland. The main conclusion is that our understanding of this gland is still in its infancy. Even for functions that are considered valid by most researchers, real evidence is scarce. Although it seems clear that preen oil contributes to plumage maintenance, we do not know whether this is due to a role in reducing mechanical abrasion or in reducing feather degradation by keratinophilic organisms. Evidence for a function against pathogenic bacteria is mixed, as preen oil has been demonstrated to act against bacteria in vitro, but not in vivo. Nor is it clear whether preen oil can combat pathogenic bacteria on eggshells to improve hatching success. Studies on the effect of preen oil against dermatophytes are very scarce and there is no evidence of a function against chewing lice. It seems clear, however, that preen oil improves waterproofing, but it is unclear whether this acts by creating a hydrophobic layer or simply by improving plumage structure. Several hypotheses proposed for the function of preen oil have been poorly studied, such as reduction of drag in flight. Similarly, we do not know whether preen oil functions as repellent against predators or parasites, makes birds unpalatable, or functions to camouflage birds with ambient odours. On the other hand, a growing body of work shows the important implications of volatiles in preen oil with regard to social communication in birds. Moreover, preen oil clearly alters plumage colouration. Finally, studies examining the impact of preen oil on fitness are lacking, and the costs or limitations of preen-oil production also remain poorly known. The uropygial gland appears to have several non-mutually exclusive functions in birds, and thus is likely to be subject to several selective pressures. Therefore, future studies should consider how the inevitable trade-offs among different functions drive the evolution of uropygial gland secretions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, E-18071, Granada, Spain
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24
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Campos SM, Strauss C, Martins EP. In Space and Time: Territorial Animals are Attracted to Conspecific Chemical Cues. Ethology 2017; 123:136-144. [PMID: 28413237 PMCID: PMC5390687 DOI: 10.1111/eth.12582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Territorial animals lay scent marks around their territories to broadcast their presence, but these olfactory signals can both attract and repel con-specifics. Attraction or aversion can have a profound impact in terms of space use and thereby influence an individual's access to resources and mates. Here, we test the impact of chemical signals on the long-term space use and activity of receivers, comparing the response of males and females, territory holders, and temporary visitors in Sceloporus undulatus lizards in the field. We placed either male femoral gland secretions (chemical) or blank (control) cues on resident male landmarks, repeatedly over 5 d, while monitoring the activity and location of all lizards in the vicinity. We found that resident males and females, but not non-resident males, were active on more days near landmarks treated with chemical cues than landmarks treated with control cues. Non-resident males remained closer to chemical than control cues. These results suggest that territorial scent marks are attractive to conspecifics and impact space use, but that the specific effects depend on receiver sex and residency status. Such subtle or gradual changes in behavior may frequently be overlooked by short-term choice experiments. Future studies investigating the behavioral significance of a communicative signal should consider these finer details of behavior for a more comprehensive assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Campos
- Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Chloe Strauss
- Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Emília P Martins
- Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
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25
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Leclaire S, Bourret V, Bonadonna F. Blue petrels recognize the odor of their egg. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:3022-3025. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.163899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Most studies on avian olfactory communication have focused on mate choice, and the importance of olfaction in subsequent nesting stages has been poorly explored. In particular, the role of olfactory cues in egg recognition has received little attention, despite eggs potentially being spread with parental odorous secretions known to elicit individual discrimination. Here we used behavioral choice tests to determine whether female blue petrels (Halobaena caerulea) can discriminate the odor of their own egg from the odor of a conspecific egg. Females preferentially approached the odor of their own egg, suggesting that blue petrels can recognize their own egg using odor cues. This finding raises the question of the adaptive value of this mechanism, and may inspire further research on odor-based egg discrimination in species suffering brood parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Leclaire
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5175, 1919 rte de Mende, Montpellier, France
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique, CNRS UMR 5174, 118 rte de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Vincent Bourret
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5175, 1919 rte de Mende, Montpellier, France
| | - Francesco Bonadonna
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5175, 1919 rte de Mende, Montpellier, France
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26
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Krause ET, Schrader L, Caspers BA. Olfaction in Chicken (Gallus gallus): A Neglected Mode of Social Communication? Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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27
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Whittaker DJ, Gerlach NM, Slowinski SP, Corcoran KP, Winters AD, Soini HA, Novotny MV, Ketterson ED, Theis KR. Social Environment Has a Primary Influence on the Microbial and Odor Profiles of a Chemically Signaling Songbird. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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28
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Whitear AK, Wang X, Catling P, McLennan DA, Davy CM. The scent of a hatchling: intra-species variation in the use of chemosensory cues by neonate freshwater turtles. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia K. Whitear
- Wildlife Preservation Canada; 5420 Highway 6 North Guelph ON N1H 6J2 Canada
| | - Xiaotian Wang
- Wildlife Preservation Canada; 5420 Highway 6 North Guelph ON N1H 6J2 Canada
| | - Pauline Catling
- Wildlife Preservation Canada; 5420 Highway 6 North Guelph ON N1H 6J2 Canada
| | - Deborah A. McLennan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Toronto; 25 Willcocks Street Toronto ON M5S 3B2 Canada
| | - Christina M. Davy
- Wildlife Preservation Canada; 5420 Highway 6 North Guelph ON N1H 6J2 Canada
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29
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Moreno-Rueda G. Uropygial gland and bib colouration in the house sparrow. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2102. [PMID: 27280079 PMCID: PMC4893339 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds frequently signal different qualities by plumage colouration, mainly during mating. However, plumage colouration is determined during the moult, and therefore it would indicate the quality of individual birds during the moult, not its current quality. Recent studies, however, suggest that birds could modify plumage colouration by using cosmetic preen oil produced by the uropygial gland. In this study, I show that bib colouration is related to uropygial gland size and body condition in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Moreover, I conducted an experiment in which a group of sparrows were inoculated with an antigen, mimicking an illness. In control birds, short-term changes in bib colouration were related to both body condition and change in uropygial gland size. Therefore, birds that reduced uropygial gland size showed a greater colouration change. However, bib colouration did not change with the change in uropygial gland size in experimental birds inoculated with the antigen. Given that the experiment did not affect preen oil production or consumption, this finding tentatively suggests that the immune challenge provoked a change in the composition of preen oil, affecting its cosmetic properties. In short, the results of this study suggest that (1) male house sparrows produce cosmetic preen oil that alters the colouration of their bibs; (2) the more change in uropygial gland size, the more change in bib colouration; and (3) in this way, bib colouration has the potential to signal current health status, since less healthy birds showed less capacity to change bib colouration.
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30
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Keagy J, Hosler LC, Borgia G. Female active sampling of male paint on bowers predicts female uncertainty in mate choice. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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31
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Golüke S, Dörrenberg S, Krause ET, Caspers BA. Female Zebra Finches Smell Their Eggs. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155513. [PMID: 27192061 PMCID: PMC4871452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Parental investment in unrelated offspring seems maladaptive from an evolutionary perspective, due to the costs of energy and resources that cannot be invested in related offspring at the same time. Therefore selection should favour mechanisms to discriminate between own and foreign offspring. In birds, much emphasis has been placed on understanding the visual mechanisms underlying egg recognition. However, olfactory egg recognition has almost been completely ignored. Here, we investigated whether female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) are able to discriminate between their own and a conspecific egg based on olfactory cues alone. Zebra finches are colonial—breeding songbirds. Eggs are monomorphic, i.e. without any spotting pattern, and intraspecific brood parasitism frequently occurs. In a binary choice experiment, female zebra finches were given the choice between the scent of their own and a conspecific egg. After the onset of incubation, females chose randomly and showed no sign of discrimination. However, shortly before hatching, females preferred significantly the odour of their own egg. The finding that females are capable to smell their own egg may inspire more research on the potential of olfaction involved in egg recognition, especially in cases where visual cues might be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Golüke
- Research Group Olfactory Communication, Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- * E-mail: (SG); (BAC)
| | - Sebastian Dörrenberg
- Research Group Olfactory Communication, Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - E. Tobias Krause
- Friedrich-Loeffler Institut, Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Celle, Germany
| | - Barbara A. Caspers
- Research Group Olfactory Communication, Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- * E-mail: (SG); (BAC)
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32
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33
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Corfield JR, Price K, Iwaniuk AN, Gutierrez-Ibañez C, Birkhead T, Wylie DR. Diversity in olfactory bulb size in birds reflects allometry, ecology, and phylogeny. Front Neuroanat 2015; 9:102. [PMID: 26283931 PMCID: PMC4518324 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2015.00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The relative size of olfactory bulbs (OBs) is correlated with olfactory capabilities across vertebrates and is widely used to assess the relative importance of olfaction to a species’ ecology. In birds, variations in the relative size of OBs are correlated with some behaviors; however, the factors that have led to the high level of diversity seen in OB sizes across birds are still not well understood. In this study, we use the relative size of OBs as a neuroanatomical proxy for olfactory capabilities in 135 species of birds, representing 21 orders. We examine the scaling of OBs with brain size across avian orders, determine likely ancestral states and test for correlations between OB sizes and habitat, ecology, and behavior. The size of avian OBs varied with the size of the brain and this allometric relationship was for the most part isometric, although species did deviate from this trend. Large OBs were characteristic of more basal species and in more recently derived species the OBs were small. Living and foraging in a semi-aquatic environment was the strongest variable driving the evolution of large OBs in birds; olfaction may provide cues for navigation and foraging in this otherwise featureless environment. Some of the diversity in OB sizes was also undoubtedly due to differences in migratory behavior, foraging strategies and social structure. In summary, relative OB size in birds reflect allometry, phylogeny and behavior in ways that parallel that of other vertebrate classes. This provides comparative evidence that supports recent experimental studies into avian olfaction and suggests that olfaction is an important sensory modality for all avian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R Corfield
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada ; Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Kasandra Price
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
| | - Andrew N Iwaniuk
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | | | - Tim Birkhead
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Douglas R Wylie
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
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34
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Caspers BA, Hagelin J, Bock S, Krause ET. An Easy Method to Test Odour Recognition in Songbird Hatchlings. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Hagelin
- Institute of Arctic Biology; University of Alaska; Fairbanks AK USA
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Fairbanks AK USA
| | - Sandra Bock
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; Bielefeld Germany
| | - E. Tobias Krause
- Department of Animal Behaviour; Bielefeld University; Bielefeld Germany
- Behavioural Ecology Group; Department of Animal Sciences; Wageningen University; Wageningen The Netherlands
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35
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Rizzoli A, Bolzoni L, Chadwick EA, Capelli G, Montarsi F, Grisenti M, de la Puente JM, Muñoz J, Figuerola J, Soriguer R, Anfora G, Di Luca M, Rosà R. Understanding West Nile virus ecology in Europe: Culex pipiens host feeding preference in a hotspot of virus emergence. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:213. [PMID: 25888754 PMCID: PMC4411713 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0831-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding wildlife disease ecology is becoming an urgent need due to the continuous emergence and spread of several wildlife zoonotic diseases. West Nile Virus (WNV) is the most widespread arthropod-borne virus in the world, and in recent decades there has been an increase both in geographic range, and in the frequency of symptomatic infections in humans and wildlife. The principal vector for WNV in Europe is the common house Culex pipiens mosquito, which feeds on a wide variety of vertebrate host species. Variation in mosquito feeding preference has been described as one of the most influential parameters driving intensity and timing of WNV infection in the United States, but feeding preferences for this species have been little studied in Europe. METHODS Here, we estimated feeding preference for wild Cx. pipiens in northern Italy, using molecular analysis to identify the origin of blood meals, and avian census to control host abundance variations. Additionally, we used host bird odour extracts to test experimentally mosquito preferences in the absence of environmental variations. RESULTS For the first time, we demonstrate a clear feeding preference for the common blackbird (Turdus merula), both for wild collected specimens and in the lab, suggesting a potential important role for this species in the WNV epidemiology in Europe. A seasonal decrease in abundance of blackbirds is associated with increased feeding on Eurasian magpies (Pica pica), and this may be linked to seasonal emergence of WNV in humans. Feeding preferences on blackbirds are more marked in rural areas, while preference for magpies is higher in peridomestic areas. Other species, such as the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) appear to be selected by mosquitoes opportunistically in relation to its abundance. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide new insights into the ecology of Cx. pipiens in Europe and may give useful indications in terms of implementing targeted WNV surveillance plans. However, a clearer understanding of spatio-temporal variations of Cx. pipiens feeding preferences, and targeted studies on reservoir competence for WNV for these species are therefore now urgently needed as this is essential to describe disease dynamics and quantify virus transmission risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annapaola Rizzoli
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach. 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
| | - Luca Bolzoni
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach. 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
- Direzione Sanitaria - Servizio di Analisi del Rischio, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Via dei Mercati 13, 43100, Parma, Italy.
| | - Elizabeth A Chadwick
- Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Biomedical Science Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom.
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Laboratory of Parasitology - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Laboratory of Parasitology - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
| | - Michela Grisenti
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach. 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Torino, Italy.
| | - Josue Martínez de la Puente
- Department of Wetland Ecology Estación Biológica Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Avda. Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Joaquin Muñoz
- Department of Wetland Ecology Estación Biológica Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Avda. Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology Estación Biológica Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Avda. Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Ramon Soriguer
- Department of Wetland Ecology Estación Biológica Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Avda. Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Gianfranco Anfora
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach. 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
| | - Marco Di Luca
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Roberto Rosà
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach. 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy.
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Caro SP, Balthazart J, Bonadonna F. The perfume of reproduction in birds: chemosignaling in avian social life. Horm Behav 2015; 68:25-42. [PMID: 24928570 PMCID: PMC4263688 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Revised: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "Chemosignals and Reproduction". Chemical cues were probably the first cues ever used to communicate and are still ubiquitous among living organisms. Birds have long been considered an exception: it was believed that birds were anosmic and relied on their acute visual and acoustic capabilities. Birds are however excellent smellers and use odors in various contexts including food searching, orientation, and also breeding. Successful reproduction in most vertebrates involves the exchange of complex social signals between partners. The first evidence for a role of olfaction in reproductive contexts in birds only dates back to the seventies, when ducks were shown to require a functional sense of smell to express normal sexual behaviors. Nowadays, even if the interest for olfaction in birds has largely increased, the role that bodily odors play in reproduction still remains largely understudied. The few available studies suggest that olfaction is involved in many reproductive stages. Odors have been shown to influence the choice and synchronization of partners, the choice of nest-building material or the care for the eggs and offspring. How this chemical information is translated at the physiological level mostly remains to be described, although available evidence suggests that, as in mammals, key reproductive brain areas like the medial preoptic nucleus are activated by relevant olfactory signals. Olfaction in birds receives increasing attention and novel findings are continuously published, but many exciting discoveries are still ahead of us, and could make birds one of the animal classes with the largest panel of developed senses ever described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel P Caro
- Research Group in Behavioural Ecology, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, CEFE-CNRS (UMR 5175), Montpellier, France; Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jacques Balthazart
- Research Group in Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Francesco Bonadonna
- Research Group in Behavioural Ecology, Department of Evolutionary Ecology, CEFE-CNRS (UMR 5175), Montpellier, France
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Corfield JR, Eisthen HL, Iwaniuk AN, Parsons S. Anatomical specializations for enhanced olfactory sensitivity in kiwi, Apteryx mantelli. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2014; 84:214-26. [PMID: 25376305 DOI: 10.1159/000365564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The ability to function in a nocturnal and ground-dwelling niche requires a unique set of sensory specializations. The New Zealand kiwi has shifted away from vision, instead relying on auditory and tactile stimuli to function in its environment and locate prey. Behavioral evidence suggests that kiwi also rely on their sense of smell, using olfactory cues in foraging and possibly also in communication and social interactions. Anatomical studies appear to support these observations: the olfactory bulbs and tubercles have been suggested to be large in the kiwi relative to other birds, although the extent of this enlargement is poorly understood. In this study, we examine the size of the olfactory bulbs in kiwi and compare them with 55 other bird species, including emus, ostriches, rheas, tinamous, and 2 extinct species of moa (Dinornithiformes). We also examine the cytoarchitecture of the olfactory bulbs and olfactory epithelium to determine if any neural specializations beyond size are present that would increase olfactory acuity. Kiwi were a clear outlier in our analysis, with olfactory bulbs that are proportionately larger than those of any other bird in this study. Emus, close relatives of the kiwi, also had a relative enlargement of the olfactory bulbs, possibly supporting a phylogenetic link to well-developed olfaction. The olfactory bulbs in kiwi are almost in direct contact with the olfactory epithelium, which is indeed well developed and complex, with olfactory receptor cells occupying a large percentage of the epithelium. The anatomy of the kiwi olfactory system supports an enhancement for olfactory sensitivities, which is undoubtedly associated with their unique nocturnal niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy R Corfield
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Avian olfactory displays: a hypothesis for the function of bill-wiping in a social context. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-014-1829-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Amo L, Tomás G, Parejo D, Avilés JM. Are female starlings able to recognize the scent of their offspring? PLoS One 2014; 9:e109505. [PMID: 25299305 PMCID: PMC4192304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although there is growing evidence that birds may have individual chemical profiles that can function in several social contexts, offspring recognition based on olfactory cues has never been explored. This ability should be more likely evolved in colonial birds and/or species suffering brood parasitism, in which the risk of being engaged in costly misdirected parental care is high. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed a choice experiment to examine whether females of the spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor, a species that is colonial, and where a fraction of the population is exposed to intraspecific brood parasitism, can discriminate between the scent of their offspring and that of unrelated nestlings. We also explored whether the development of the uropygial gland secretion may play a role in such olfactory discrimination by performing the choice experiments to females rearing nestlings of two different ages, that is, without and with developed uropygial glands. Results showed that female starlings did not preferentially choose the scent of their offspring, independently of whether the gland of nestlings was developed or not. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest that female starlings do not have or do not show the ability to distinguish their offspring based on olfaction, at least up to 12–14 days of nestling age. Further research is needed to examine whether odour-based discrimination may function when fledgling starlings leave the nest and the risk of costly misidentification is likely to increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Amo
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Gustavo Tomás
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
| | - Deseada Parejo
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
| | - Jesús Miguel Avilés
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
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Tuttle EM, Sebastian PJ, Posto AL, Soini HA, Novotny MV, Gonser RA. Variation in preen oil composition pertaining to season, sex, and genotype in the polymorphic white-throated sparrow. J Chem Ecol 2014; 40:1025-38. [PMID: 25236380 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-014-0493-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Evidence for the the ability of birds to detect olfactory signals is now well documented, yet it remains unclear whether birds secrete chemicals that can be used as social cues. A potential source of chemical cues in birds is the secretion from the uropygial gland, or preen gland, which is thought to waterproof, maintain, and protect feathers from ectoparasites. However, it is possible that preen oil also may be used for individual recognition, mate choice, and signalling social/sexual status. If preen oil secretions can be used as socio-olfactory signals, we should be able to identify the volatile components that could make the secretions more detectable, determine the seasonality of these secretions, and determine whether olfactory signals differ among relevant social groups. We examined the seasonal differences in volatile compounds of the preen oil of captive white-throated sparrows, Zonotrichia albicollis. This species is polymorphic and has genetically determined morphs that occur in both sexes. Mating is almost exclusively disassortative with respect to morph, suggesting strong mate choice. By sampling the preen oil from captive birds in breeding and non-breeding conditions, we identified candidate chemical signals that varied according to season, sex, morph, and species. Linear alcohols with a 10-18 carbon chains, as well as methyl ketones and carboxylic acids, were the most abundant volatile compounds. Both the variety and abundances of some of these compounds were different between the sexes and morphs, with one morph secreting more volatile compounds in the non-breeding season than the other. In addition, 12 compounds were seasonally elevated in amount, and were secreted in high amounts in males. Finally, we found that preen oil signatures tended to be species-specific, with white-throated sparrows differing from the closely related Junco in the abundances and/or prevalence of at least three compounds. Our data suggest roles for preen oil secretions and avian olfaction in both non-social as well as social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaina M Tuttle
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, 600 Chestnut Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809, USA,
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