title: Coyote estrous urine volatiles.
abstract: Samples of female coyote urine were taken once or twice each week during the winter and spring for two years. Headspace analysis was employed with Tenax GC trapping and GC-MS. Tenax trapping was started in less than 1 hr after sampling, and mild conditions were used to minimize losses of highly volatile and labile compounds. Thirty-four compounds were identified. They include sulfur compounds, aldehydes and ketones, hydrocarbons, and one alcohol. The principal constituent is methyl 3-methylbut-3-enyl sulfide, which usually comprised 50% or more of the total volatiles observed. The concentration of many constituents varied widely. This appeared to be quasiperiodic for five of the constituents, with a period of a few weeks, and with pronounced maxima at the peak of estrus. Apparently these compounds are 3-methyltetrahydrothiophene, methyl 3-methylbutyl sulfide, octanal, dodecanal, and bis(3-methylbut-3-enyl) disulfide. One or more of these compounds may have pheromonal activity in coyote relationships.
authors.affiliation: Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 94710, Albany, California.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Flath
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Mon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teranishi
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Howard