Posted on: 02 March, 2017

Author: Alexander P

Let us return to our basic assumption, that if pheromone odors are to be used for social integration in small mammals that are unable to use visual and acoustic signals, we might expect that the total... Let us return to our basic assumption, that if pheromone odors are to be used for social integration in small mammals that are unable to use visual and acoustic signals, we might expect that the total range of messages to be transmitted is as wide as it is in those species able to use visual and acoustic signals. Surprisingly little attention has been paid to the social organization of populations of small mammals under natural conditions, but this is probably due to the difficulties of such study. As a corollary, even less attention has been paid to the communication necessary to maintain the organization. Wherever observations have been made on social organization of natural populations (e.g. Sadleir, 1965), it is clear that a strong supporting network of communication exists. All aspects of life within a society require pheromone communication between individuals. These aspects can conveniently be discussed under four headings: Reproduction; Aggression and social dominance; Individual range and territory maintenance; Family and clan cohesion. In reviewing what is known about these we shall have to dwell to a considerable extent on the results of laboratory investigations. These have been, for the most part, very thorough, but have not been conrmed by eld observations. In terms of real social pheromone communication their interpretation must be treated with considerable caution according to http://ekta-parishad.org/human-pheromones-to-increase-attraction/ Pheromones Reproduction Little is to be said here about the effects and inuences of odors on reproductive patterns, since this is the substance of a later chapter (Bronson, Ch. 18). As Bron- son (1971) points out, most of the work has been carried out on rodents, primarily the house mouse, with little attention spared elsewhere. In most of these studies the site of origin, let alone the composition of the odor is not known, although its association with urine is not in doubt. It may prove that odors involved in strange male implantation block and related phenomena (Bruce 1960; Clulow and Clarke 1968; Bronson 1971) emanate from a variety of sites. The need for further experimentation in this eld is great. Aggression and social pheromone dominance There have been enough investigations conducted into aggressive interactions in mice for it to be accepted that a factor, or some factors (‘Angstgeruch’ Muller- Velten 1966; Mackintosh and Grant 1966; Ropartz 1968) inducing fear or attack in others can be produced in mice. Such a substance or substances appears to be taken up by the surroundings of mice and remains active for seven to eight hours. Muller- Velten accedes that the source of ‘Angstgeruch’ may also be the skin glands, or the feces, but it has been positively identified as occurring in the urine. Individuals of one sex react to the urine from others of that sex and in addition females react to the urine of males. Males react to the urine of females not by ight, but by investigative behavior. This suggests that urine may be the site of several sorts of pheromone messages. Even more owning territory within laboratory colonies show a high degree of peace towards intruding females which is not shown to males (Mackintosh 1970). Dixon and Mackintosh (1971) were able to show that urine from an adult female signicantly reduces the amount of aggression when one male or a two male partnership is daubed with urine. The authors consider that the substance acts directly to inhibit aggression, since there is a concomitant increase in sexual and non-social behavior. Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com Alexander P is a bloggr that studies human pheromones.