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Scent chemicals of the Brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula
Citation
McLean, S and Davies, NW and Wiggins, NL, Scent chemicals of the Brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, Journal of Chemical Ecology, 38, (10) pp. 1318-1339. ISSN 0098-0331 (2012) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
DOI: doi:10.1007/s10886-012-0188-5
Abstract
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
is the most widespread browsing marsupial in
Australia, where it occupies woodland, agricultural, and
urban environments. Following its introduction into New
Zealand in the 19th century it has become a major feral pest,
threatening native forests. The adaptability of the possum is
thought to be due in part to its social organization, in which
chemical communication is important. Possums have cloacal
glands and exhibit related marking behavior. This study
sought to characterize the chemicals involved in scent marking.
Swabs were taken of the cloacal region of 15 possums
(5 females, 10 males) from north-eastern Tasmania and
analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
There was a large number of compounds present, including
81 branched and unbranched, and saturated and unsaturated,
fatty acids (C4–C15) and alcohols (C6–C26); 27 esters of 2,6-
and 2,7-dimethyloctanol; 29 esters of formic acid; 39 sulfur
compounds including S8 and a series of dialkyl disulfides,
trisulfides, and tetrasulfides (C4–C10); and several alkylglycerol
ethers. Many of these cloacal compounds are new to
biology. There was considerable individual variability in the
relative amounts of compounds found, and no evident sex
differences, although the study was not designed to test this.
This pattern suggests that these compounds may be acting
collectively as a signature mixture of semiochemicals, carrying
information on the individual, its kinship, and physiological
and social status. This is the first detailed
description of putative semiochemicals in any marsupial
species.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | mammalian chemical signals, brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, invasive vertebrate pest, cloaca, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, decyl esters, formate esters, polysulfides, alkylglycerol ethers, chemistry |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Terrestrial ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Other environmental management |
Objective Field: | Other environmental management not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | McLean, S (Professor Stuart McLean) |
UTAS Author: | Davies, NW (Associate Professor Noel Davies) |
UTAS Author: | Wiggins, NL (Dr Natasha Wiggins) |
ID Code: | 79502 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 8 |
Deposited By: | Pharmacy |
Deposited On: | 2012-09-18 |
Last Modified: | 2013-05-13 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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