Cracking the olfactory code of a butterfly: the scent of ageing.

Nieberding, Caroline MEvolutionary Biology Group, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands (author)

Cracking the olfactory code of a butterfly : the scent of ageing.

Ecology Letters (2012) 15: 415-424 ABSTRACT: Although olfaction is a primary mode of communication, its importance in sexual selection remains understudied. Here, using the butterfly Bicyclus anynana, we address all the parameters of importance to sexual selection for a male olfactory signal. We show that variation in the male sex pheromone composition indicates male identity and male age. Courting males of different ages display small absolute (c. 200 ng) but large relative (100%) change of one specific pheromone component (hexadecanal) which, unlike the other components, showed no heritability. Females prefer to mate with mid-aged over younger males and the pheromone composition is sufficient to determine this preference. Surprisingly refined information is thus present in the male olfactory signal and is used for sexual selection. Our data also reveal that there may be no 'lek paradox' to resolve once the precise signal of importance to females is identified, as hexadecanal is, as expected, depleted in additive genetic variation.

Fischer, KlausZoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Johann-Sebastian-Bach Str. 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany (author)
Saastamoinen, MarjoMetapopulation Research Group, Department of BioSciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), FI-00014, Finland (author)
Allen, Cerisse EDivision of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula MT 59812, United States (author)
Wallin, Erika A.Mittuniversitetet,Institutionen för tillämpad naturvetenskap och design (-2013),Erik Hedenström(Swepub:miun)erikwa (author)
Hedenström, ErikMittuniversitetet,Institutionen för tillämpad naturvetenskap och design (-2013),Erik Hedenström(Swepub:miun)erihed (author)
Brakefield, Paul MUniversity Museum of Zoology Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom (author)
Evolutionary Biology Group, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, NetherlandsZoological Institute and Museum, Greifswald University, Johann-Sebastian-Bach Str. 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Nieberding, Caro ...; Fischer, Klaus; Saastamoinen, Ma ...; Allen, Cerisse E; Wallin, Erika A.; Hedenström, Erik; show more...; Brakefield, Paul ...; show less...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Chemical Science ...; and Organic Chemistr ...

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