Prenuptial perfume: Alloanointing in the social rituals of the crested auklet (Aethia cristatella) and the transfer of arthropod deterrents

Douglas, Hector D.

doi:10.1007/s00114-007-0294-3

Cited by 37 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(54 reference statements)

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“…Douglas [91] published data indicating that natural concentrations of auklet odor are, at least in some cases, greater than those published by Hagelin et al [88]. He also conducted in vitro experiments with ticks (A. americanum) exposed to low doses (0.5% and 1%) of a synthetic cocktail.…”

Section: Odorous Feathersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…He also conducted in vitro experiments with ticks (A. americanum) exposed to low doses (0.5% and 1%) of a synthetic cocktail. Douglas [91] argued that these doses simulate natural conditions because the 1% solution exposed ticks to lower concentrations of octanal than he isolated from the crown and nape feathers of Crested Auklets. Locomotion of ticks at both doses in this study was significantly less than that of controls, and there was evidence of paralysis in some of the ticks exposed to the 1% treatment.…”

Section: Odorous Feathersmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

Clayton¹,

Koop²,

Harbison³

et al. 2010

TOOENIJ

222

211

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Birds are plagued by an impressive diversity of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feeding lice, to featherdegrading bacteria. Many of these ectoparasites have severe negative effects on host fitness. It is therefore not surprising that selection on birds has favored a variety of possible adaptations for dealing with ectoparasites. The functional significance of some of these defenses has been well documented. Others have barely been studied, much less tested rigorously. In this article we review the evidence -or lack thereof -for many of the purported mechanisms birds have for dealing with ectoparasites. We concentrate on features of the plumage and its components, as well as anti-parasite behaviors. In some cases, we present original data from our own recent work. We make recommendations for future studies that could improve our understanding of this poorly known aspect of avian biology.

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Section: Odorous Feathersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Odorous Feathersmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

Clayton¹,

Koop²,

Harbison³

et al. 2010

TOOENIJ

222

211

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show abstract

“…This socially monogamous seabird species has a seasonally elevated citrusy scent associated with a display behavior called “ruff-sniff” involving a bird rubbing its face multiple times in the scented nape of a display partner (Jones, 1993). The citrusy odor, which would not be associated with the uropygial secretions but with wick feathers in the interscapular region, has been intensively studied as a parasite chemical repellent (Douglas et al, 2001, 2004; 2005; Douglas, 2006, 2013; Douglas III et al, 2001), and the associated “ruff-sniff” behavior suggested as a mean to exchange chemical deterrents between conspecifics by alloanointing (Douglas, 2008). Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that during this unusual parade the two potential mates also acquire information on respective health status: a bird with high level of citrusy odor would be well protected against parasites, and thus may represent a good mate.…”

Section: Importance Of Chemosignals In Successive Reproductive Stagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The perfume of reproduction in birds: Chemosignaling in avian social life

Samuel

Balthazart²,

Bonadonna

2015

Hormones and Behavior

106

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Chemical cues were probably the first cues ever used to communicate and are still ubiquitous among living organisms. Birds have long been considered an exception: it was believed that birds were anosmic and relied on their acute visual and acoustic capabilities. Birds are however excellent smellers and use odors in various contexts including food searching, orientation, but also breeding. Successful reproduction in most vertebrates involves the exchange of complex social signals between partners. The first evidence for a role of olfaction in reproductive contexts in birds only dates back to the seventies, when ducks were shown to require a functional sense of smell to express normal sexual behaviors. Nowadays, even if the interest for olfaction in birds has largely increased, the role that bodily odors play in reproduction still remains largely understudied. The few available studies however suggest that olfaction is involved in many reproductive stages. Odors have been shown to influence the choice and synchronization of partners, the choice of nest-building material or the care for the eggs and offspring. How this chemical information is translated at the physiological level mostly remain to be described, although available evidence suggests that, as in mammals, key reproductive brain areas like the medial preoptic nucleus are activated by relevant olfactory signals. Olfaction in birds receives increasing attention and novel findings are continuously published, but many exciting discoveries are still ahead of us, and could make birds one of the animal classes with the largest panel of developed senses ever described.

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“…The potential that scent-based cues contribute to mate choice decisions has been typically overlooked in birds [for exceptions, see Douglas (Douglas, 2008); Hagelin (Hagelin, 2004) and Hagelin and Jones (Hagelin and Jones, 2007)] but kin recognition is mediated by scent in a wide range of vertebrates, including humans (Wedekind et al, 1995), mice (Yamazaki et al, 1976;Yamazaki et al, 1979), fish (Reusch et al, 2001) and lizards (Olsson et al, 2003). Given that breeding birds form long-term pair bonds, producing just one egg per season with, presumably, little or no extra-pair paternity (Austin and Parkin, 1996;Quillfeldt et al, 2001;Swatscheck et al, 1994), selecting an appropriate mate is critical to lifetime reproductive success.…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory ecology on the high seas: the odor world of the procellariiform seabirds

Nevitt

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

209

191

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SummaryProcellariiform seabirds wander the world's oceans aided by olfactory abilities rivaling those of any animal on earth. Over the past 15 years, I have been privileged to study the sensory ecology of procellariiforms, focusing on how olfaction contributes to behaviors, ranging from foraging and navigation to individual odor recognition, in a broader sensory context. We have developed a number of field techniques for measuring both olfactory-and visually based behaviors in chicks and adults of various species. Our choice of test odors has been informed by long-term dietary studies and geochemical data on the production and distribution of identifiable, scented compounds found in productive waters. This multidisciplinary approach has shown us that odors provide different information over the ocean depending on the spatial scale. At large spatial scales (thousands of square kilometers), an olfactory landscape superimposed upon the ocean surface reflects oceanographic or bathymetric features where phytoplankton accumulate and an area-restricted search for prey is likely to be successful. At small spatial scales (tens to hundreds of square kilometers), birds use odors and visual cues to pinpoint and capture prey directly. We have further identified species-specific, sensory-based foraging strategies, which we have begun to explore in evolutionary and developmental contexts. With respect to chemical communication among individuals, we have shown that some species can distinguish familiar individuals by scent cues alone. We are now set to explore the mechanistic basis for these discriminatory abilities in the context of kin recognition, and whether or not the major histocompatibility complex is involved.

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Prenuptial perfume: Alloanointing in the social rituals of the crested auklet (Aethia cristatella) and the transfer of arthropod deterrents

Cited by 37 publications

References 28 publications

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

The perfume of reproduction in birds: Chemosignaling in avian social life

Sensory ecology on the high seas: the odor world of the procellariiform seabirds

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