Communication through body odour
Article Abstract:
Human communication is dominated by auditory and visual information, while many animals use smell to communicate. The human vomeronasal organ (VNO) has been found near the base of the nasal septum in adults. Humans emit odours and studies have shown that a mother can identify the odour of her newborn infant or older child. Schank and McClintock have proposed a model spanning three levels of organization, the group, the rat and the neuroendocrine component, in accordance with other diverse biological systems showing synchronization of cycles. Support for the generality of the model is provided.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1998
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Definitive evidence for cuticular pheromones in a cricket
Article Abstract:
A behavioral assay was conducted to demonstrate that male field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) employ cuticular contact pheromones as a communication channel for identifying a conspecific's sex. Gas chromatography studies reveal that male and female crickets have different quantities of cuticular extract compounds. Results suggest that cuticular compound concentrations and not the levels of a single sex pheromone are responsible for mate recognition.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1997
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Navigation through vector addition
Article Abstract:
The ability of golden hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus, to reach familiar feeding places via variable paths without unambiguous direction and position cues was tested. The aim was to determine whether self-generated vector information has a general role in navigation. The role of vision is not completely ruled out, and it is shown that vector addition happens independently of landmark constellations.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1998
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