| Title: | Succession of Dung-Inhabiting Beetles and Flies Reflects the Succession of Dung-Emitted Volatile Compounds |
| Author(s): | Sladecek FXJ; Dotterl S; Schaffler I; Segar ST; Konvicka M; |
| Address: | "Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. franzsladecek@gmail.com. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. franzsladecek@gmail.com. Department of Biosciences, Plant Ecology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria. Agriculture & Environment Department, Harper Adams University, Newport, UK. Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-021-01266-x |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Chemical cues, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are often essential for insects to locate food. Relative to the volume of studies on the role of VOCs in insect-plant relationships, the role of VOCs emitted by dung and carrion in mediating the behavior of insect decomposers is understudied. Such relationships may provide a mechanistic understanding of the temporal axis of community assembly processes in decomposing insect communities. We focused on the temporal succession of volatiles released by cow dung pats and the potential influence on dung-inhabiting insects. Using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry we identified and quantified VOCs released from dung 1-h, and 1, 2 3, 5, and 7 d-old. We then related changes in VOCs to successional patterns of dung-inhabiting beetles and flies. We detected 54 VOCs which could be assigned to two successional groups, with chemical turnover in dung changing around day 2. The early successional group consisted primarily of aliphatic alcohols and phenols, and the late one of aliphatic esters, nitrogen- and sulfur-bearing compounds. Flies were predominately associated with the early successional group, mainly with 1-butanol. Beetles were associated predominately with the late-successional group, mainly with dimethyl trisulfide. This association between insect and chemical successional patterns supports the idea that habitat filtering drives the community assembly of dung-inhabiting insects on an aging resource. Moreover, the affinity of both insect groups to specific VOC groups provides a mechanistic explanation for the predictability of successional patterns found in dung-inhabiting insect communities" |
| Keywords: | "Alcohols/analysis/metabolism Animal Communication Animals Behavior, Animal Biological Evolution Cattle Coleoptera Diptera Esters/analysis/metabolism Feces/*chemistry Food Preferences/*physiology Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Nitrogen/analysis/metab;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSladecek, Frantisek Xaver Jiri Dotterl, Stefan Schaffler, Irmgard Segar, Simon Tristram Konvicka, Martin eng 15-24571S/Grant Agency of the Czech Republic/ (RVO//:60077344)/Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Science/ (152/2016/P)/Grant Agency of University of South Bohemia/ (MSM200961902)/Czech Academy of Sciences/ CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0006/Univ. of South Bohemia Postdoc project/ 2021/04/09 J Chem Ecol. 2021 May; 47(4-5):433-443. doi: 10.1007/s10886-021-01266-x. Epub 2021 Apr 8" |
