Title: | Insect alarm pheromones in response to predators: Ecological trade-offs and molecular mechanisms |
Author(s): | Basu S; Clark RE; Fu Z; Lee BW; Crowder DW; |
Address: | "Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. Electronic address: saumik.basu@wsu.edu. Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA; Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103514 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-0240 (Electronic) 0965-1748 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Insect alarm pheromones are chemical substances that are synthesized and released in response to predators to reduce predation risk. Alarm pheromones can also be perceived by predators, who take advantage of alarm cues to locate prey. While selection favors evolution of alarm pheromone signals that are not easily detectable by predators, predator evolution selects for better prey detection ability. Here, we review the diversity of alarm signals, and consider the behavioral and ecological conditions under which they have evolved. We show that components of alarm pheromones are similar across many insects, although aphids exhibit different behavioral responses to alarm cues compared to social insects. The effects of alarm pheromones on prey behavior depend on factors such as the concentration of pheromones and the density of conspecifics. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms of alarm pheromone perception underlying the evolutionary arms race between predators and prey, and the function of olfactory proteins and receptors in particular. Our review provides a novel synthesis of the diversity and function of insect alarm pheromones, while suggesting avenues that might better allow researchers to exploit population-level responses to alarm signaling for the sustainable management of pests and vector-borne pathogens" |
Keywords: | Animals Ants/metabolism Aphids/metabolism Bees/metabolism Cues Insecta/metabolism/*physiology Pheromones/*metabolism Predatory Behavior/*physiology Smell/physiology Chemical communication Insect behavior Kairomones Molecular ecology Predator-prey interact; |
Notes: | "MedlineBasu, Saumik Clark, Robert E Fu, Zhen Lee, Benjamin W Crowder, David W eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review England 2020/12/29 Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2021 Jan; 128:103514. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103514. Epub 2020 Dec 23" |