Scent Chemicals of the Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula

Journal of Chemical Ecology

Volumn 38, Issue 10, 2012, Pages 1318-1339

  McLean, Stuart ^a   Davies, Noel W ^b   Wiggins, Natasha L ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA   (Australia)

^b UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA   (Australia)

Author keywords

Alkylglycerol ethers; Brushtail possum; Cloaca; Decyl esters; Fatty acids; Fatty alcohols; Formate esters; Invasive vertebrate pest; Mammalian chemical signals; Polysulfides; Trichosurus vulpecula

Indexed keywords

PHEROMONE;

AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEM; BROWSING; CHEMICAL ECOLOGY; FATTY ACID; FERAL ORGANISM; GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY; INVASIVE SPECIES; KINSHIP; MARSUPIAL; MASS SPECTROMETRY; NINETEENTH CENTURY; PEST SPECIES; PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE; SCENT MARKING; SEMIOCHEMICAL; URBAN ECOSYSTEM; WOODLAND;

ANIMAL; ANIMAL COMMUNICATION; ARTICLE; AUSTRALIA; CHEMISTRY; CLOACA; FEMALE; ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION; MALE; MASS FRAGMENTOGRAPHY; METABOLISM; PHYSIOLOGY; SECRETION (PROCESS); TRICHOSURUS;

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION; ANIMALS; CLOACA; FEMALE; GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY; MALE; PHEROMONES; TASMANIA; TRICHOSURUS;

AUSTRALIA; NEW ZEALAND; TASMANIA;

MAMMALIA; METATHERIA; PHALANGERIDAE; TRICHOSURUS; TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA; VERTEBRATA;

EID: 84869508386     PISSN: 00980331     EISSN: 15731561     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s10886-012-0188-5     Document Type: Article

References (73)

1. Alberts, A. C. 1992. Constraints on the design of chemical communication systems in terrestrial vertebrates. Am. Nat. 139: S62-S89.
2. Albone, E. S. 1984. Mammalian Semiochemistry. The Investigation of Chemical Signals Between Mammals. Wiley, Chichester. 360 p.
3. Beynon, J. H., Saunders, R. A., and Williams, A. E. 1968. The Mass Spectra of Organic Molecules. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 510 p.
4. Biggins, J. G. 1984. Communications in possums: A review, pp. 35-57, in A. Smith and I. Hume (eds.), Possums and Gliders. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Canberra.
5. Bolliger, A. and Hardy, M. H. 1944. The sternal integument of Trichosurus vulpecula. Proc. R. Soc. NSW 78: 122-133.
6. Bolliger, A. and Whitten, W. K. 1948. The paracloacal (anal) glands of Trichosurus vulpecula. Proc. R. Soc. NSW 82: 36-43.
7. Boyle, R., McLean, S., and Davies, N. W. 2000. Biotransformation of 1, 8-cineole in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Xenobiotica 30: 915-932.
8. Brinck, C., Erlinge, S., and Sandell, M. 1983. Anal gland secretion in mustelids-a comparison. J. Chem. Ecol. 9: 727-745.
9. Buesching, C. D., Waterhouse, J. S., and Macdonald, D. W. 2002. Gas-chromatographic analyses of the subcaudal gland secretion of the European badger (Meles meles) Part I: Chemical differences related to individual parameters. J. Chem. Ecol. 28: 41-56.
10. Burger, B. V. 2005. Mammalian semiochemicals, pp. 231-278, in S. Schulz (ed.) Chemistry of Pheromones and Other Semiochemicals.
11. Burger, B. V., Tien, F. C., LeRoux, M., and Mo, W. P. 1996. Mammalian exocrine secretions. 10. Constituents of preorbital secretion of grysbok, Raphicerus melanotis. J. Chem. Ecol. 22: 739-764.
12. Burger, B. V., Greyling, J., and Spies, H. S. C. 1999a. Mammalian exocrine secretions. XIV: Constituents of preorbital secretion of steenbok, Raphicerus campestris. J. Chem. Ecol. 25: 2099-2108.
13. Burger, B. V., Nell, A. E., Spies, H. S. C., Le Roux, M., Bigalke, R. C., and Brand, P. A. J. 1999b. Mammalian exocrine secretions. XII: Constituents of interdigital secretions of bontebok, Damaliscus dorcas dorcas, and blesbok, D. d. phillipsi. J. Chem. Ecol. 25: 2057-2084.
14. Burger, B. V., Smit, D., Spies, H. S. C., Schmidt, C., Schmidt, U., Telitsina, A. Y., and Grierson, G. R. 2001. Mammalian exocrine secretions XV. Constituents of secretion of ventral gland of male dwarf hamster, Phodopus sungorus sungorus. J. Chem. Ecol. 27: 1259-1276.
15. Burger, B. V., Visser, R., Moses, A., and Le Roux, M. 2006. Elemental sulfur identified in urine of cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus. J. Chem. Ecol. 32: 1347-1352.
16. Burger, B. V., Viviers, M. Z., Bekker, J. P. I., le Roux, M., Fish, N., Fourie, W. B., and Weibchen, G. 2008. Chemical characterization of territorial marking fluid of male Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris. J. Chem. Ecol. 34: 659-671.
17. Carlson, D. A., Roan, C. S., Yost, R. A., and Hector, J. 1989. Dimethyl disulfide derivatives of long chain alkenes, alkadienes, and alkatrienes for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Anal. Chem. 61: 1564-1571.
18. Coleman, J. D., Montague, T. L., Eason, C. T., and Statham, H. L. 1997. The Management of Problem Browsing and Grazing Mammals in Tasmania. Browsing Animal Research Council Tasmania.
19. Cowan, P. E. 2001. Advances in New Zealand mammalogy 1990-2000: Brushtail possum. J. R. Soc. N. Z. 31: 15-29.
20. Crump, D. R. 1980a. Anal gland secretion of the ferret (Mustela putorius Forma furo). J. Chem. Ecol. 6: 837-844.
21. Crump, D. R. 1980b. Thietenes and dithiolanes from the anal gland of the stoat (Mustela ermina). J. Chem. Ecol. 6: 341-347.
22. Crump, D. R. and Moors, P. J. 1985. Anal gland secretions of the stoat (Mustela ermina) and ferret (Mustela putorius Forma furo). Some additional thiotene components. J. Chem. Ecol. 11: 1037-1043.
23. Day, T., O'Connor, C., and Matthews, L. 2000. Possum social behaviour, pp. 35-46, in T. L. Monague (ed.), The Brushtail Possum: Biology, Impact and Management of an Introduced Marsupial. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
24. Garcia-Rubio, S., Attygalle, A. B., Weldon, P. J., and Meinwald, J. 2002. Reptilian chemistry: Volatile compounds from paracloacal glands of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). J. Chem. Ecol. 28: 769-781.
25. Göröcs, N., Mudri, D., Mátyási, J., and Balla, J. 2012. The determination of GC-MS relative molar responses of some n-alkanes and their halogenated analogs. J. Chromatogr. Sci. doi: 10. 1093/chromsci/bms118.
26. Green, L. M. A. 1963. Distribution and comparative histology of cutaneous glands in certain marsupials. Aust. J. Zool. 11: 250-272.
27. Green, W. G. 1984. A review of ecological studies relevant to management of the common brushtail possum, pp. 483-498, in A. Smith and I. Hume (eds.), Possums and Gliders. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Canberra.
28. Gupta, D., Knight, A. R., and Smith, P. J. 1981. Mass spectral studies of symmetrical and unsymmetrical dialkyl disulfides. Can. J. Chem. 59: 543-548.
29. Harvey, D. J. 1991. Identification and quantification of lipids from rabbit Harderian glands by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. Biomed. Chromatogr. 5: 143-147.
30. Helsel, D. R. 2005. Insider censoring: Distortion of data with nondetects. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess. 11: 1127-1137.
31. Iannitti, T. and Palmieri, B. 2010. An update on the therapeutic role of alkylglycerols. Mar. Drugs 8: 2267-2300.
32. Ji, W. H., White, P. C. L., and Clout, M. N. 2005. Contact rates between possums revealed by proximity data loggers. J. Appl. Ecol. 42: 595-604.
33. Jorgenson, J. W., Novotny, M., Carmack, M., Copland, G. B., Wilson, S. R., Katona, S., and Whitten, W. K. 1978. Chemical scent consituents in the urine of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) during the winter season. Science 199: 796-798.
34. Kasama, K., Uezumi, N., and Ito, K. 1970. Characterization and identification of glyceryl ether diesters in Harderian gland tumor of mice. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 202: 56-66.
35. Kerle, J. A. 1984. Variation in the ecology of Trichosurus: its adaptive significance, pp. 115-28, in A. Smith and I. Hume (eds.), Possums and Gliders. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Canberra.
36. Khannoon, E. R., Flachsbarth, B., El-Gendy, A., Mazik, K., Hardege, J. D., and Schulz, S. 2011. New compounds, sexual differences, and age-related variations in the femoral gland secretions of the lacertid lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 39: 95-101.
37. Kuo, M. C. and Ho, C. T. 1992. Volatile constituents of the solvent extracts of Welsh onions (Allium fistulosum L. Variety Maichon) and scallions (A. fistulosum L. variety Caespitum). J. Agric. Food Chem 40: 1906-1910.
38. Lee, S. N., Kim, N. S., and Lee, D. S. 2003. Comparative study of extraction techniques for determination of garlic flavor components by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 377: 749-756.
39. Magnusson, C. D. and Haraldsson, G. G. 2011. Ether lipids. Chem. Phys. Lipids 164: 315-340.
40. Martin, S. J. and Drijfhout, F. P. 2009. How reliable is the analysis of complex cuticular hydrocarbon profiles by multivariate statistical methods? J. Chem. Ecol. 35: 375-382.
41. McLean, S., Brandon, S., Davies, N. W., Boyle, R., Foley, W. J., Moore, B., and Pass, G. J. 2003. Glucuronuria in the koala. J. Chem. Ecol. 29: 1465-1477.
42. Mo, W. P., Burger, B. V., Leroux, M., and Spies, H. S. C. 1995. Mammalian exocrine secretions. IX: Constituents of preorbital secretion of Oribi, Ourebia ourebi. J. Chem. Ecol. 21: 1191-1215.
43. NIST. 2008. NIST Mass Spectral Search Program Version 2. 0f.
44. Novotny, M. V., Soini, H. A., Koyama, S., Wiesler, D., Bruce, K. E., and Penn, D. J. 2007. Chemical identification of MHC-influenced volatile compounds in mouse urine. I: Quantitative proportions of major chemosignals. J. Chem. Ecol. 33: 417-434.
45. Parrott, M. L., Ward, S. J., and Temple-Smith, P. D. 2007. Olfactory cues, genetic relatedness and female mate choice in the agile antechinus (Antechinus agilis). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 61: 1075-1079.
46. Pino, J. A., Fuentes, V., and Correa, M. T. 2001. Volatile constituents of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Sprengel) and rakkyo (Allium chinense G. Don). J. Agric. Food Chem 49: 1328-1330.
47. Salamon, M. 1995. Seasonal, sexual and dietary induced variations in the sternal scent secretion in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), pp. 211-222, in R. Apfelbach, D. MullerSchwarze, K. Reutter, and E. Weiler (eds.), Chemical Signals in Vertebrates VII. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
48. Salamon, M. and Davies, N. W. 1998. Identification and variation of volatile compounds in sternal gland secretions of male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). J. Chem. Ecol. 24: 1659-1676.
49. Schneider, N. Y., Fletcher, T. P., Shaw, G., and Renfree, M. B. 2008. The vomeronasal organ of the tammar wallaby. J. Anat. 213: 93-105.
50. Schultz, T. H., Kruse, S. M., and Flath, R. A. 1985. Some volatile constituents of female dog urine. J. Chem. Ecol. 11: 169-75.
51. Schultz, T. H., Flath, R. A., Stern, D. J., Mon, T. R., Teranishi, R., Kruse, S. M., Butler, B., and Howard, W. E. 1988. Coyote estrous urine volatiles. J. Chem. Ecol. 14: 701-712.
52. Schwende, F. J., Wiesler, D., Jorgenson, J. W., Carmack, M., and Novotny, M. 1986. Urinary volatile constituents of the house mouse, Mus musculus, and their endocrine dependency. J. Chem. Ecol. 12: 277-296.
53. Shalita, A. R. 1974. Genesis of free fatty acids. J. Invest. Dermatol. 62: 332-335.
54. Sokolov, V. E., Albone, E. S., Flood, P. F., Heap, P. F., Kagan, M. Z., Vasilieva, V. S., Roznov, V. V., and Zinkevich, E. P. 1980. Secretion and secretory-tissues of the anal sac of the mink, Mustela vison-Chemical and histological studies. J. Chem. Ecol. 6: 805-825.
55. Spurr, E. B. and Jolly, S. E. 1999. Dominant and subordinate behaviour of captive brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). N. Z. J. Zool. 26: 263-270.
56. Stander, M. A., Burger, B. V., and Le Roux, M. 2002. Mammalian exocrine secretions. XVII: Chemical characterization of preorbital secretion of male suni, Neotragus moschatus. J. Chem. Ecol. 28: 89-101.
57. Tirindelli, R., Dibattista, M., Pifferi, S., and Menini, A. 2009. From pheromones to behavior. Physiol. Rev. 89: 921-956.
58. Tobey, J. R., Nute, T. R., and Bercovitch, F. B. 2009. Age and seasonal changes in the semiochemicals of the sternal gland secretions of male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Aust. J. Zool. 57: 111-118.
59. Tyndale-Biscoe, H. 2005. Life of Marsupials. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
60. Walker, P. W., Allen, G. R., Davies, N. W., Smith, J. A., Molesworth, P. P., Nilsson, A., andersson, F., and Hedenstrom, E. 2009. Identification, synthesis and field testing of (3Z, 6Z, 9Z)-3, 6, 9-henicosatriene, a second bioactive component of the sex pheromone of the autumn gum moth, Mnesampela privata. J. Chem. Ecol. 35: 1411-1422.
61. Waterhouse, J. S., Ke, J., Pickett, J. A., and Weldon, P. J. 1996. Volatile components in dorsal gland secretions of the collared peccary, Tayassu tajacu (Tayassuidae, mammalia). J. Chem. Ecol. 22: 1307-1314.
62. Weldon, P. J., Flachsbarth, B., and Schulz, S. 2008. Natural products from the integument of nonavian reptiles. Nat. Prod. Rep. 25: 738-756.
63. Wheeler, J. W., Vonendt, D. W., and Wemmer, C. 1975. 5-Thiomethylpentane-2, 3-dione-unique natural product from striped hyena. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 97: 441-442.
64. Wood, W. F. 2003. Volatile components in metatarsal glands of sika deer, Cervus nippon. J. Chem. Ecol. 29: 2729-2733.
65. Wood, W. F., Sollers, B. G., Dragoo, G. A., and Dragoo, J. W. 2002. Volatile components in defensive spray of the hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura. J. Chem. Ecol. 28: 1865-1870.
66. Woolhouse, A. D., Weston, R. J., and Hamilton, B. H. 1994. Analysis of secretions from scent-producing glands of brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr). J. Chem. Ecol. 20: 239-253.
67. Wyatt, T. D. 2003. Pheromones and Animal Behaviour: Communication by Smell and Taste. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
68. Wyatt, T. D. 2010. Pheromones and signature mixtures: defining species-wide signals and variable cues for identity in both invertebrates and vertebrates. J. Comp. Physiol. A 196: 685-700.
69. Yamazaki, T., Seyama, Y., Otsuka, H., Ogawa, H., and Yamakawa, T. 1981. Identification of alkyldiacylglycerols containing saturated methyl branched chains in Harderian-gland of guinea-pig. J. Biochem. 89: 683-691.
70. Zabaras, R., Richardson, B. J., and Wyllie, S. G. 2005. Evolution in the suite of semiochemicals secreted by the sternal gland of Australian marsupials. Aust. J. Zool. 53: 257-263.
71. Zhang, J. X., Sun, L. X., Zhang, Z. B., Wang, Z. W., Chen, Y., and Wang, R. 2002. Volatile compounds in anal gland of Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica) and steppe polecats (M. eversmanni). J. Chem. Ecol. 28: 1287-1297.
72. Zhang, J. X., Soini, H. A., Bruce, K. E., Wiesler, D., Woodley, S. K., Baum, M. J., and Novotny, M. V. 2005. Putative chemosignals of the ferret (Mustela furo) associated with individual and gender recognition. Chem. Senses 30: 727-737.
73. Zhang, J.-X., Rao, X.-P., Sun, L., Zhao, C.-H., and Qin, X.-W. 2007. Putative chemical signals about sex, individuality, and genetic background in the preputial gland and urine of the house mouse (Mus musculus). Chem. Senses 32: 293-303.