Insect pheromones and precursors in female African elephant urine.
Using automated solid-phase dynamic extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, our search for urinary chemical signals from ovulatory female African elephants (Loxodonta africana) has revealed the bark beetle aggregation pheromones frontalin, exo-brevicomin, and endo-brevicomin, as well as their precursors and the aphid alarm pheromones (E,E)-alpha-farnesene and (E)-beta-farnesene. Enantiomeric ratios for brevicomins have been determined. Prior discovery of common insect/elephant pheromones in Asian elephants, namely, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate and frontalin, suggests that the present findings may yield valuable insights into chemical communication among African elephants.
Goodwin
Thomas E
TE
Department of Chemistry, Hendrix College, Conway, AR 72032, USA. goodwin@hendrix.edu
Eggert
Mindy S
MS
House
Sam J
SJ
Weddell
Margaret E
ME
Schulte
Bruce A
BA
Rasmussen
L E L
LE
D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000737:chemistry; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000652:urine; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry; D004606:Elephants / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D010675:Pheromones / Q000652:urine*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000652:urine
D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D010675:Pheromones; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C062671:beta-farnesene; C062672:alpha-farnesene; C012327:frontalin; C012219:brevicomin