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1. Tropospheric Ozone Alters the Chemical Signal Emitted by an Emblematic Plant of the Mediterranean Region: The True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)

Author

Dubuisson, Candice, Nicolè, Florence, Buatois, Bruno, Hossaert-Mckey, Martine, Proffit, Magali, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Montpellier, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Université de Montpellier (UM), and ANR-16-IDEX-0006,MUSE,MUSE(2016)

Subjects
Ecology, [CHIM.ANAL]Chemical Sciences/Analytical chemistry, [SDV.BID.EVO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE], [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Abstract

International audience; Among air pollutants, tropospheric ozone (O3) is one of the most stressful for organisms due to its strong oxidative potential. For instance, high ozone concentration ([O3]) has the potential to affect (i) the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by plants and (ii) the lifetime of these VOCs in the atmosphere, and consequently disturb crucial signals in the interactions between plants and other organisms. However, despite the determinant role of VOCs emitted by flowers for pollinator attraction, a very limited number of studies have investigated the impact of O3 on floral VOCs. In this study, we investigated the effect of high [O3] episodes on the VOCs emitted by a flowering Mediterranean plant: the true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Lamiaceae). To do so, in controlled conditions, we exposed (i) the entire plant to high but realistic [O3] (200 ppb for 5 h) and (ii) only the VOCs emitted by lavender to increasing [O3] (0, 40, 80, 120, and 200 ppb). We sampled VOCs of lavender in both conditions and analyzed them by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in order to qualify and quantify the flowering lavender’s emissions and the reaction of VOCs with O3 in the atmosphere. Our results showed that exposure to high [O3] during a short period (5 h) did not affect the emission of VOCs by flowering lavender. Incidentally, we also showed that the chemical signal varied in quantities and proportions over the day. Moreover, we showed that after their emission by the plant, composition of the VOCs changed quantitatively and qualitatively in an atmosphere containing [O3] naturally observed nowadays. Quantities of several of the major terpenes emitted by lavender decreased drastically during O3 exposure, whereas concentrations of some VOCs increased, such as carbonyls and carboxylic acids, which are probably reaction products of terpenes with O3. Exposure to high [O3] thus directly affected the proportions of VOCs in the atmosphere. Because pollinators generally use a blend of VOCs in particular proportions as a signal to localize flowers, the numerous pollinators of lavender may experience difficulty in recognizing specific floral odors during frequent and moderate [O3] episodes in the Mediterranean region.

Published
2022

2. Acute ozone exposure impairs detection of floral odor, learning, and memory of honey bees, through olfactory generalization

Author

Démares, Fabien, Gibert, Laëtitia, Creusot, Pierre, Lapeyre, Benoit, Proffit, Magali, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Montpellier, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Université de Montpellier (UM), and ANR-16-IDEX-0006,MUSE,MUSE(2016)

Subjects
Air Pollutants, Volatile Organic Compounds, Insecta, Environmental Engineering, [SDV.BID.EVO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE], [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes, Bees, Pollution, Smell, Ozone, [CHIM.ANAL]Chemical Sciences/Analytical chemistry, Odorants, Animals, Environmental Chemistry, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, Pollination, Waste Management and Disposal
Abstract

Air pollution stemming from human activities affects the environment in which plant and animal species live and interact. Similar to primary air pollutants which are emitted, secondary air pollutants, such as tropospheric ozone (O

Published
2022

3. Plants Are the Drivers of Geographic Variation of Floral Scents in a Highly Specialized Pollination Mutualism: a Study of Ficus Hirta in China

Author

Cheng Yufen, Deng Xiaoxia, Buatois Bruno, Peng Yan-Qiong, Hui Yu, Proffit Magali, and Kjellberg Finn

Subjects
Mutualism (biology), Ficus hirta, Pollination, Ecology, Geographic variation, Biology, China
Abstract

BackgroundFloral volatiles play an important role in pollinator attraction. This is particularly true in obligate brood site pollination mutualisms. The plants generally produce inconspicuous flowers and depend on odours to attract to their inflorescences specialised pollinators that breed in their floral structures. Little is known about the processes shaping the micro-evolution of these floral odours. Here, we investigate geographic variation of floral odour in an obligate host-specific brood site pollination mutualism where plant and pollinator genetic structures are different, Ficus hirta and its specialised pollinators.ResultsWe evidence progressive geographic divergence of floral odours. The pattern of variation fits plant genetic structure but differs from pollinating insect structuring into species and populations. In our study system, the evolution of receptive floral odour presents a pattern that is not distinguishable from neutral drift that is not canalised by the insects.ConclusionWe propose that this pattern characterises obligate brood site pollination mutualisms in which pollinators are host specific and dispersal is limited. Insects with their short generation times and large population sizes track variation in host receptive inflorescence odours. Plants are the drivers and insects the followers. Strict sense plant-insect co-evolution is not involved. In contrast, stabilizing selection may be at work in more dispersive brood site pollination mutualisms, while pollinators may mediate local interspecific plant floral odour convergence when plant species share local pollinators.

Published
2021

4. Effets de l’ozone sur les interactions entre plantes et pollinisateurs

Author

Proffit, Magali, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), PNR EST, and Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE)

Subjects
composés organiques volatlls, figuier, [SDV.EE.SANT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment/Health, changement climatique, pollinisateur, lavande, communication chimique, pollution atmosphérique, interaction, valeur référence, écosystème, insecte, biodiversité, ozone, plante, surveillance environnement, qualité air, guêpe, [SDV.TOX.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Toxicology/Ecotoxicology, indicateur, abeille, [SDV.EE.IEO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment/Symbiosis
Abstract

National audience; Les activités humaines représentent une réelle menace pour la pollinisation et le fonctionnement des écosystèmes qu’elle représente. De nombreux travaux ont montré qu’une exposition à l’ozone pouvait avoir des effets nocifs sur les populations humaines et sur la physiologie des plantes. L’objectif du projet ExpOz est de comparer l’effet de plusieurs niveaux d’exposition à l’ozone sur la communication chimique plantes-pollinisateurs. Deux types d’interactions seront étudiées : 1.L’interaction très spécifique entre le figuier cultivé (Ficus carica) et sa guêpe pollinisatrice (Blastophaga psenes) / 2.L’interaction généraliste entre la lavande (Lavandula angustifolia) et l’abeille domestique (Apis mellifera).

Published
2019

5. Insect Odorscapes: From Plant Volatiles to Natural Olfactory Scenes

Author

Conchou, Lucie, Lucas, Philippe, Meslin, Camille, Proffit, Magali, Staudt, Michael, Renou, Michel, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris (iEES Paris), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris (IEES (UMR_7618 / UMR_D_242 / UMR_A_1392 / UM_113) ), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), and Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])

Subjects
[SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment, lcsh:QP1-981, Physiology, fungi, Review, plant volatiles, landscape, insect olfaction, lcsh:Physiology, volatilome, odorscape, sensory ecology, olfactome, plant-insect interaction
Abstract

full-text will be published soon; International audience; Olfaction is an essential sensory modality for insects and their olfactory environment is mostly made up of plant-emitted volatiles. The terrestrial vegetation produces an amazing diversity of volatile compounds, which are then transported, mixed, and degraded in the atmosphere. Each insect species expresses a set of olfactory receptors that bind part of the volatile compounds present in its habitat. Insect odorscapes are thus defined as species-specific olfactory spaces, dependent on the local habitat, and dynamic in time. Manipulations of pest-insect odorscapes are a promising approach to answer the strong demand for pesticide-free plant-protection strategies. Moreover, understanding their olfactory environment becomes a major concern in the context of global change and environmental stresses to insect populations. A considerable amount of information is available on the identity of volatiles mediating biotic interactions that involve insects. However, in the large body of research devoted to understanding how insects use olfaction to locate resources, an integrative vision of the olfactory environment has rarely been reached. This article aims to better apprehend the nature of the insect odorscape and its importance to insect behavioral ecology by reviewing the literature specific to different disciplines from plant ecophysiology to insect neuroethology. First, we discuss the determinants of odorscape composition, from the production of volatiles by plants (section "Plant Metabolism and Volatile Emissions") to their filtering during detection by the olfactory system of insects (section "Insect Olfaction: How Volatile Plant Compounds Are Encoded and Integrated by the Olfactory System"). We then summarize the physical and chemical processes by which volatile chemicals distribute in space (section "Transportation of Volatile Plant Compounds and Spatial Aspects of the Odorscape") and time (section "Temporal Aspects: The Dynamics of the Odorscape") in the atmosphere. The following sections consider the ecological importance of background odors in odorscapes and how insects adapt to their olfactory environment. Habitat provides an odor background and a sensory context that modulate the responses of insects to pheromones and other olfactory signals (section "Ecological Importance of Odorscapes"). In addition, insects do not respond inflexibly to single elements in their odorscape but integrate several components of their environment (section "Plasticity and Adaptation to Complex and Variable Odorscapes"). We finally discuss existing methods of odorscape manipulation for sustainable pest insect control and potential future developments in the context of agroecology (section "Odorscapes in Plant Protection and Agroecology").

Published
2019

6. Insect odorscapes: from plant volatiles to natural olfactory scenes

Author

Conchou, Lucie, Lucas, Philippe, Meslin-Auclair, Camille, Proffit, Magali, Staudt, Michael, and Renou, Michel

Subjects
Volatile organic compound, Odorscape, plant volatilome, olfactolome, chemical communication, Plant-insect interactions, Plant volatile compounds, insect olfaction, fungi
Abstract

Olfaction is an essential sensory modality for insects and their olfactory environment is mostly made up of plant-emitted volatiles. The terrestrial vegetation produces an amazing diversity of volatile compounds, which are then transported, mixed and degraded in the atmosphere. Each insect species expresses a set of olfactory receptors that bind part of the volatile compounds present in its habitat. Insect odorscapes are thus defined as species-specific olfactory spaces, dependent on the local habitat, and dynamic in time. Manipulations of pest-insect odorscapes are a promising approach to answer the strong demand for pesticide-free plant-protection strategies. Moreover, understanding their olfactory environment becomes a major concern in the context of global climatic change and environmental stresses to insect populations. A considerable amount of information is available on the identity of volatiles mediating biotic interactions that involve insects. However, in the large body of research devoted to understanding how insects use olfaction to locate resources, an integrative vision of the olfactory environment has rarely been reached. This article aims to better apprehend the nature of the insect odorscape and its importance to insect behavioral ecology by reviewing the literature specific to different disciplines from plant ecophysiology to insect neuroethology. First, we discuss the determinants of odorscape composition, from the production of volatiles by plants (Section II) to their filtering during detection by the olfactory system of insects (Section III). We then summarize the physical and chemical processes by which volatile chemicals distribute in space (Section IV) and time (Section V) in the atmosphere. The following sections consider the ecological importance of background odors and how insects adapt to their olfactory environment. Habitat provides an odor background and a sensory context that modulate the responses of insects to pheromones and other olfactory signals (Section VI). In addition, insects do not respond inflexibly to single elements in their odorscape but integrate several components of their environment (Section VII). We finally discuss existing methods of odorscape manipulations for sustainable pest insect control and potential future developments in the context of agroecology (Section VIII).

Published
2019

7. Ecologie chimique : une science intégrative et expérimentale

Author

Cortesero, Anne-Marie, DUPLAIS, Christophe, Proffit, Magali, Viard, Frédérique, Grenier, Anne-Sophie, Anne-Geneviève Bagnères, Martine Hossaert-Mckey, Institut de Génétique, Environnement et Protection des Plantes (IGEPP), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Rennes (UR)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST, Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)

Subjects
[SDE.BE] Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
Abstract

National audience

Published
2017

8. Chemical communication between figs and wasps: Variation in wasp perception in Ficus septica and associated wasps

Author

Rodriguez, Lillian, Lapeyre, B., Conchou, Lucie, Bain, A., Cruaud, Astrid, Gonzales, R., Rasplus, Jean Yves, Hossaert-Mckey, M., Proffit, Magali, Kjellberg, Finn, Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (UMR CBGP), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Fondation de Coopération Scientifique Campus Paris Saclay, Partenaires INRAE, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris (iEES), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), National Taiwan University, University of the Philippines (UP System), Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), ProdInra, Migration, and Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE)

Subjects
[SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio], [SDE] Environmental Sciences, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], [SDE]Environmental Sciences, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
Abstract

National audience

Published
2016

9. Critical thinking in the chemical ecology of mammalian communication: roadmap for future studies

Author

Charpentier, Marie, Barthes, Nicolas, Proffit, Magali, Bessière, Marie, Grison, Claude, Fox, Charles, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Direction Interarmées du Service de Santé en Guyane, Bio-inspired Chemistry and Ecological Innovations (ChimEco), Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud]), CNRS, and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UM3)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Functional role, 0303 health sciences, Future studies, Ecology, chemical mediators, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], chemical communication, Computational biology, Biology, Chemical communication, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Nine rules, Chemical ecology, 03 medical and health sciences, Identification (biology), mammals, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 030304 developmental biology
Abstract

International audience; 1. Sophisticated and sensitive technologies now allow separation, quantification and chemical characterization of numerous compounds that play roles in chemical communication, chemical defence and aggression, in interactions between conspecific or heterospecific individuals. In the particular subfield of mammalian chemical communication, these rapid technological advances, combined with a frequent lack of technical background, have led to important errors in both chemical characterization of molecules and interpretation of their roles as chemical mediators of communication. 2. The aim of this article is to highlight some of these methodological and analytical pitfalls and to provide a basis for better understanding of chemical mediation of communication in mammals. We compiled the recent literature treating molecules found in mammalian secretions and having putative roles in communication. A selection of 41 published studies dealing with 33 mammal species revealed reports of 857 different molecules. Based on the five main metabolic pathways responsible for the biosynthesis of most known secondary metabolites, we propose nine general biochemical rules that will help researchers to avoid errors of chemical characterization and to aid in interpreting the possible functional role of identified molecules as chemical mediators of mammal communication. 3. Following these nine rules, we show that published studies include reports of molecules that are incorrectly or ambiguously named, molecules of exclusively non-natural origin, molecules produced by other organisms but not directly by mammals, and molecules of biological origin and possibly produced by mammals. Only the last two of these classes could conceivably play roles as mediators of mammalian communication. We discuss the potential roles of these compounds as reported in the publications we reviewed. 4. Our recommendations concerning technical, analytical and statistical aspects of the identification of compounds and interpretation of their roles should help chemical ecologists ask the appropriate questions about the accuracy of their identifications of molecules, the biological relevance of molecules they do identify and the possible functional roles of these molecules in mammalian communication.

Published
2012

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