Bird chemical signals

Dumbacher, J. P. (2003). Natural histoiy of chemical defense in New Guinea birds. InPro-ceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, July, 2003, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 

Physical means of information are found with all living organisms. Chemical signaling is typical ofthe lower organisms and, through the vomeronasal neurons, the animals (Leinders-Zufall 2000). The latter rely also on sound and colors as information systems. Sound is flatly repetitive, such as with birds, to avoid breeding between closely related species. With man (MacNeilage 2000), and perhaps also apes and dolphins (Nowak 2000), soimd is syntactic. Man seems to have also inherited a rudimentary chemical information system, that is, sexual attraction exerted by pheromones released fi om the armpits (Stem 1998). However, the claim remains to be fiilly substantiated. 

We caution undue optimism regarding the quick discovery of simple chemical signals for an artificial lure system, especially if the candidate lures are compounds that are selected on the basis of human perception. Human perception is likely to be an inappropriate basis for sensory studies of other animals. For example, many procellariiform birds are attracted to the odors of a variety of fish oils and fish by-products (Clark and Shah, 1992). To humans, these food items have a distinctly fishy smell largely attributable to the... 

The evidence is now strong that prey detection depends at least partly on chemical signals arising directly from the prey organisms themselves or from processes in association with them. Reports from many skilled observers of these birds behavior patterns imply such dependence (see Wenzel, 1980 for summary). Perhaps the earliest is that of Collins (1882, p. 317), who described "tolling" up storm-petrels and shearwaters by using cod livers. 

The possibility of nonspecific chemical signals has scarcely been considered for birds. Given the prominent olfactory anatomy of procellariiforms, however, it should be worth considering. Not only do they possess a uropygial gland, whose lipid secretion has a unique composition at least at the species level, but as in most birds there are also anal glands as well... 

The best possible outcome of a bioassay is the elicitation of a specific behavior pattern by a defined chemical stimulus (Miiller-Schwarze 1977). This chapter presents methods to assess the role of chemical stimuli in the behavior of birds and mammals. An overview of the chemosensory capacities of birds and mammals to perceive stimuli is provided first, followed by a description of test paradigms that can be incorporated into bioassays. The preponderance of the chapter describes examples of these paradigms incorporated into bioassays to assess the role of chemical signals in inter- and intra-specific behaviors. The examples, like past studies in mammalian and avian chemical ecology, are disproportionately represented by rodents. Most of the described procedures, however, could be modified for other species, provided the apparatuses and the response variables can be altered to accommodate the different subject and stimuli. 

This second experiment with predator odors deals with day-active mammals whose behavior can be observed directly and readily. Small mammals snch as sqnirrels are prey to many predatory birds and mammals. Vigilance vis-a-vis predators encompass all major senses smell, vision, and hearing. In the chemical sphere, predators leave signals from scent marks, droppings, and nrine in the environment. Sqnirrels as typical rodents have a keen sense of smell capable of detecting snch predator odors and extracting information snch as how recent the sign is. 

For human hazard the statements required hy EPA include the signal word, child hEtzard warning, statements of practical treatment, and any general precautionary statements which are applicable. For environmental hazard, the EPA requires statements on toxicity to nontarget fish, wildlife, birds, aquatic invertebrates, beneficial insects, and plants. Statements required for physical and chemical hazards focus primarily on flammability, but may include hazards related to explosion, oxidation, chemical reactions, or other characteristics of the product. 

The year 1960 brought Transport Phenomena as perhaps predicted by Tom Chilton in 1939, and the The Classical Field Theories as perhaps ordained by Leonhard Euler in 1750. The wide-ranging treatment of heat, mass and momentum transfer by Bird, Stewzirt and lightfoot signalled a new era in chemical engineering research and teaching, but the basic concepts of kinematics, stress and constitutive relations still remained to be placed in their proper perspective. 

---