title: Secondary metabolites released by the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides: chemical analyses and possible ecological functions.
abstract: Burying beetles of the genus Nicrophorus localize small vertebrate carcasses by emitted volatiles. The carcass that serves as reproduction and breeding site is buried in the soil by the beetles. Biparental care for offspring includes both preservation of the carrion and its preparation as diet and nursery. Buried carcasses show no signs of microbial decay, and those experimentally treated with Nicrophorus secretions are known to grow fewer bacteria and fungi. In order to investigate the chemical composition of these secretions, we used GC-MS for analysis of methanolic extracts of anal and oral secretions released by adult N. vespilloides. Furthermore, we analyzed the headspace of adult N. vespilloides by SPME-GC-MS and searched for compounds with known antimicrobial activity. We identified 34 compounds in the headspace, and anal and oral secretions, 26 of which occurred consistently. We discuss the ecological relevance of these compounds with respect to both their antimicrobial activity and ecological relevance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Degenkolb
authors.forename: Rolf-Alexander
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Düring
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilcinskas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000737:chemistry*; D001947:Breeding; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005519:Food Preservation; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents