Stoat

Although no consistently effective chemical repellent has been developed for vertebrate pests, some promising materials have been tested as repellents that are based on predator avoidance, specifically compounds from the secretions of predators. In 1995, synthetic sulfur compounds (two thietanes, a thiolane, and a substituted methyl sulfide, which were originally identified from the anal glands of the stoat, ferret, and red fox) suppressed browsing by the introduced AustraUan bmsh-tail opossum in New Zealand about as well as FEP (83). Suggestions were made that these compounds can be made more effective by the use of bitter compounds in a cocktail. 

Stoate C, Boatman N D, Borralho R J, Rio Carvalho C, de Snoo G R and Eden P (2001). Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe . Journal of Environmental Management, 63, 337-365. 

Stoat, Mustela erminea total PCBs liver 1093-16,510 LW 11... 

Prey organisms of weasel, stoat and polecat liver total PCBs 30-813 LW 11... 

The relative concentrations of constituents of the anal sac secretion in male stoats, Mustek erminea, are distinct for different individuals, but consistent over time for each individual. This possibly permits individual recognition of territory owners (Erlinge etal., 1982). The chemical composition of the anal gland of the otter, Lutra lutra (Gorman etal., 1978) and the subcaudal gland of the badger, Meles meles (Kruuk etal., 1984) also differ with the individuals. 

A species may scent mark in two different ways that convey different messages. In the stoat, M. erminea, body rubbing is correlated with threat behavior, while the anal drag permeates an area with an individual odor (Erlinge etal., 1982). 

A predator odor affected a pocket gopher, Thomomys talpoides, population in western Canada. First live-trapping removed the gophers from plots of 4ha area in an orchard. Then synthetic sulfur compounds from stoat, Mustek erminea anal glands (1 1 mixture of 2-propylthietane and 3-propyl-l,2-dithiolane) were... 

Propyl-l,2-dithiolane Stoat AGS Montane vole Sullivan eta/., 1988... 

Laboratory and domestic animals may be poor models for avoidance of predator odors. For example, in one experiment, chickpeas were painted with the sulfur compounds w-propyldithiolane and w-propylthiolane from stoat anal gland secretion and 2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (Fig. 3.1, p. 37) from fox feces. The chickpeas were planted and wild mice and house mice were tested to see if they would dig up and eat the peas. Wild mice remembered the predator odors better after odor exposure for 1 or 4 weeks and, consequently, may be better than laboratory mice at risk assessment (Coulston etal, 1993). 

Erlinge, S., Sandell, M., and Brinck, C. (1982). Scent-marking and its territorial significance in stoats, Mustda erminea. Animal Behaviour 30,811-818. 

The response of prey to stoat [Mustek erminea) scent Journal of Zoology (London) 202,419-423. 

Sullivan, T. P., Crump, D. R., Wieser, H. and Dixon, E. A. (1990). Response of pocket gophers [Thomomys talpoides) to an operational application of synthetic semiochem-icals of stoat [Mustela erminea). Journal of ChemicalEcobgy 16,941-949. 

Animal Sources. The marine annelid worm Lumbrineris hetero-poda produces an insect toxin nereistoxin, 24, 4-N,N-dimethyl-amino-1,2-dithiolane (5 ). The mink MusteXa vison) affords 2,2-dimethylthietane, 14, and 3,3-dimethy1-1,2-dithiolane, 25 (28,63, 64), the ferret Musteta putoris) secretes 14, 25, cis- and trans-2,3-dimethylthietane, 2-propyl- and 2-pentyl-thietane, cis and trans-3,4-dimethyl-l,2-dithiolane, and 3-propyl-l,2-dithiolane (65), and the stoat (Mustela erminea) contains 2-ethyl-, 2-propyl-, and 2-pentyl-thietane, and 3-ethyl- and 3-propyl-l,2-dithiolane in its anal gland (5, ). These several thiaheterocycles from mustela species probably function as scent markers. 

Stoat Weasel Polecat Pine marten Otter... 

Robert H. Jackson, Stoat und Moral, Nymphenburger V erlagshandlung, Munich 1946... 

Mackenzie scratched at the mob on his neck. He stopped when he caught me watching There s one thing that s come up that ni be important, he said, with a casuahess that wasn t entire convincing One witness ho spoke to Sally Palmer at the barbecue says she was annoyed because someone had bft a dead stoat on her doorstep. She thought it was a sbk idea ofa joke. ... 

W)u told me there was a stoat left on Sa% Palmer s doorstep, and Lyn Metcalf told her husbaixl she d found a dead hare the day before she disappeared. like you said yourself this is the countryside. Animals die all the time. ... 

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