Alarm pheromones ecology

Brown, G. E., Adrian, J. C., Jr., Naderi, N. T., Harvey, M. C., and Kelly, J. M. (2003). Nitrogen oxides elicit antipredator responses in juvenile channel catfish, but not in convict cichlids or rainbow trout conservation of the ostariophysan alarm pheromone. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29,1781-1796. 

Kuwahara, Y., Koshii, T., Okamoto, M., Matsumoto, K. and Suzuki, T. (1991c). Chemical ecology on astigmatid mites. XXX. Neral as the alarm pheromone of Glycyphagus domesticus (De Geer) (Acarina Glyciphagidae). Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology 42 29-32. 

Kuwahara, Y., Ohshima, M., Sato, M., Kurosa, K., Matsuyama, S. and Suzuki, T. (1995a). Chemical ecology of astigmatid mites XL. Identification of the alarm pheromone and new C17 hydrocarbons from a Tortonia sp., a pest attacking the nest of Osmia cornifrones. Applied Entomology and Zoology 30 177-184. 

Kuwahara, Y., Ibi, T., Nakatani, Y. et al. (2001). Chemical ecology of astigmatid mites LXI. Neral, the alarm pheromone of Schwiebea elongata (Acari Acaridae). Journal of Acarological Society Japan 10 19-25. 

Mizoguchi, A., Mori, N., Nishida, R., and Kuwahara, Y. (2003). a-Acaridial, a female sex pheromone from an alarm pheromone emitting mite Rhizoglyphus robini. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29 1681-1690. 

Nishimura, K., Shimizu, N., Naoki Mori, N. and Kuwahara, Y. (2002). Chemical ecology of astigmatid mites LXIV. The alarm pheromone neral functions as an attractant in Schwiebea elongata (Banks) (Acari Acaridae). Applied Entomology and Zoology 37 13-18. 

Bowers WS, Nishino C, Montgomery ME, Nault LR, Nielson MW (1977) Sesquiterpene progenitor, germacrene A An alarm pheromone in aphids. Science 196 680-681 Breton ML, Addicott JF (1992) Density-dependent mutualism in an aphid-ant interaction. Ecology 73 2175-2180... 

Taxonomic Comparisons. Obviously there are many variations on the basic injury released alarm pheromone theme in fishes and other organisms. A more comprehensive examination of the distribution and variations of this phenomenon might reveal patterns. For example, are there alarm substances that are predator attractants and others that are predator repellants Are some ecological niches more amenable to chemical alarm signaling than others Electrical ostariophysans, for example, seem to lack the alarm pheromone system (Pfeiffer 1977) but may use their electrical signals in some comparable manner. 

Controversy on the use of the terms pheromone, allomone and kairo-mone has been a problem in chemical ecology 122, 123, 135-145). When Karlson and Luscher 121) proposed the term pheromone, they stated that strict species-specific activity is not required certain overlaps between closely related species may occur . Indeed, Haskins et al. 146) reported that formic acid, a potent alarm pheromone and the defensive secretion (thus an allomone) from Camponotus sp. is also an effective kairomone for its predator Myrmecia gulosa, because it induces more vigorous attacks by M. gulosa on Camponotus. 

Chemically mediated interactions have important direct and indirect effects on communities from both ecological and evolutionary standpoints.22 341 Chemical defense or communication cannot be properly understood unless it is viewed through the lenses of population, community, and ecosystem processes, and this requires consideration of both the biotic and abiotic components of the natural environment.342 For example, chemically mediated foraging is affected by water flow because it relies on water-soluble cues that are carried away from prey.343 345 Similar constraints likewise modify the effectiveness of other waterborne cues, such as alarm signals, sexual pheromones, and settlement cues, in both mobile and sessile organisms.244 345 350... 

The term recruitment , like the term alarm has become diffuse as the diversity and complexity of social insect behavior has emerged. In this review we will take recruitment to mean the inducement of workers to move from one area to another, either to retrieve food or to move to new territory or a new nest site. The chemical signals involved are usually, but not always, deposited on the substratum, and may therefore also constitute an orientation signal. The two possible functions of trail pheromones , recruitment of nest mates and orientation to food or nest, need to be carefully separated to estimate the importance of these chemical signals in the ecology of each species. 

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