at Google ScholarTitle data
Johnson, Steven D. ; Burgoyne, Priscilla M. ; Harder, Lawrence D. ; Dötterl, Stefan:
Mammal pollinators lured by the scent of a parasitic plant.
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
Vol. 278
(2011)
Issue 1716
.
- pp. 2303-2310.
ISSN 0962-8452
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.2175
Abstract in another language
To communicate with animals, plants use signals that are distinct from their surroundings. Animals generally learn to use these signals through associative conditioning; however, signals are most effective when they elicit innate behavioural responses. Many plant species have flowers specialized for pollination by ground-dwelling mammals, but the signals used to attract these pollinators have not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate the chemical basis for attraction of mammal pollinators to flowers of the dioecious parasitic plant Cytinus visseri (Cytinaceae). Two aliphatic ketones dominate the scent of this species; 3-hexanone, which elicits strong innate attraction in rodents, and 1-hexen-3-one, which repels them in isolation, but not in combination with 3-hexanone. The aliphatic ketone-dominated scent of C. visseri contrasts with those of insect-pollinated plants, which are typically dominated by terpenoids, aromatic or non-ketone aliphatic compounds. 3-hexanone is also known from some bat-pollinated species, suggesting independent evolution of plant signals in derived, highly specialized mammal-pollination systems.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a journal |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Additional notes: | BAYCEER91286 |
| Institutions of the University: | Research Institutions > Research Centres > Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research- BayCEER Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Plant Systematics Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology Research Institutions Research Institutions > Research Centres |
| Result of work at the UBT: | Yes |
| DDC Subjects: | 500 Science |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Jul 2015 10:25 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Aug 2021 09:25 |
| URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/15848 |