| Title: | Volatile Organic Compounds of Decaying Piglet Cadavers Perceived by Nicrophorus vespilloides |
| Author(s): | von Hoermann C; Ruther J; Ayasse M; |
| Address: | "Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 10-1 Containerstadt, 89081, Ulm, Germany. christian.hoermann-von-und@uni-ulm.de. Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Universitatsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 10-1 Containerstadt, 89081, Ulm, Germany" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-016-0719-6 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In the necrophagous burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides (Coleoptera: Silphidae), cadaver preference appears to depend on cadaver size and on the maturity of the beetle. We previously showed that newly emerged females with immature ovaries prefer later stages of decomposition of large cadavers. Our present aim is the determination of specific chemical compounds involved in the discrimination of cadaveric odor bouquets and the recognition of specific stages of decomposition. We used headspace samples of maggot-infested piglet cadavers at various decomposition stages and performed gas chromatography coupled with electroantennography (GC-EAD) to record 45 EAD-active compounds. Using GC coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified 13 of the EAD-active compounds. The headspace of the fresh decomposition stage was characterized mainly by high relative amounts of trimethylpyrazine. High relative amounts of dimethyl trisulfide were characteristic of bloated, post-bloating, and advanced decay stages. The advanced decay and dry remains stages were dominated by high relative amounts of phenol. Statistically, this compound had the highest impact on discrimination between the fresh decomposition stage, which is important for mature burying beetles for reproduction, and the advanced decay stage, which is nutritionally more attractive for newly emerged beetles. Phenol might, therefore, function as a key substance for newly emerged female burying beetles, so that they can locate suitable cadavers for feeding to maturation" |
| Keywords: | Animals Biological Assay Cadaver Coleoptera/*drug effects/*physiology Electrophysiological Phenomena/drug effects Female Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Male Olfactory Perception/*drug effects *Swine Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/*pharmacology; |
| Notes: | "Medlinevon Hoermann, Christian Ruther, Joachim Ayasse, Manfred eng 2016/07/03 J Chem Ecol. 2016 Aug; 42(8):756-767. doi: 10.1007/s10886-016-0719-6. Epub 2016 Jul 1" |
