Evolution of pheromone communication

Thiessen D. D. (1977) Thermoenergetics and the evolution of pheromone communication. Prog. Psychobiol. Physiol. Psych. 7, 91-191. 

In this article, we review a research program on pheromonal communication in three congeneric skinks. The major emphases have been on social discriminations based on chemical cues, including choice of mates and agonistic opponents, on selective forces underlying the evolution of pheromonal communication (especially sexual selection), and on the anatomical site of pheromone production. 

The evolution of chemical communication was probably influenced by such additional factors as adsorption of aerial pheromones to vegetation, or waterborne pheromones to suspended clay. The influence of these environmental features has very likely selected for both the choice of chemical constituents of the signals and the appropriate signal-emission behaviors (Gleeson, 1978). 

All of the long-range kairomones attractive to parasitoids that have been identified thus far are sex pheromones of the hosts. However, we are probably aware of only a small fraction of the predators and parasites that are eavesdropping on the pheromonal communications of their prey or hosts. While the evolution of individuals that are as inconspicuous as possible to their enemies is favored, it is impossible for a species to completely avoid emitting chemical signals. Thus, pheromones that are important to reproduction or other vital functions, and are good indicators of the presence of a species, are available for predators or parasitoids to exploit. 

Evolution of resistance to pheromones by a shift in the pheromone to a new blend is fundamentally different from resistance to other control tactics in at least two ways. First, because both signaler and responder are involved in communication,... 

Haynes, K. F. and Baker, T. C. (1988). Potential for evolution of resistance to pheromones worldwide and local variation in chemical communication system of the pink bollworm moth, Pectinophora gossypiella. Journal of Chemical Ecology 14 1547-1560. 

Lundberg, S. and Lofstedt, C. (1987). Intra-specific competition in the sex communication channel a selective force in the evolution of moth pheromones. Journal of Theoretical Biology 125 15-24. 

Stanhope, M.J., Connelly, M.M., and Hartwick, B., Evolution of a crustacean chemical communication channel behavioral and ecological genetic evidence for a habitat-modified, race-specific pheromone, J. Chem. Ecol., 18, 1871, 1992. 

Leal W. S. (1997) Evolution of sex pheromone communication in plant-feeding scarab beetles. In Insect Pheromone Research New Directions, eds R. T. Carde, and A. K. Minks, pp. 505-513. Chapman Hall, New York. 

Henderson, G. (1998). Primer pheromones and possible soldier caste influence on the evolution of sociality in lower termites. In Pheromone Communication in Social Insects. Ants, Wasps, Bees and Termites, ed. R. K. Vander Meer, M.D. Breed, K. E. Espelie and M.L. Winston. New York Westview Press, pp. 314—330. 

Our knowledge of vertebrate pheromonal communication systems is in its infancy. Certainly, many significant and fascinating questions about the basic nature of the evolutionary and biochemical mechanisms that underlie pheromone evolution and function await answers. 

How Stable Are Hormonal Pheromone Systems Which Employ Specialized Signals Because of the high level of co-evolution and specialization associated with the development of sexual signals, we believe that intrinsic factors promote elaboration of pheromonal complexity, but also make communication systems relatively immune to fundamental change. Change is more likely to result from extrinsic factors as discussed below (Section 5.4). 

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