Meeting Abstract

P1-181  Friday, Jan. 4 15:30 – 17:30  The Effects of Chemical Signal Content in Social Communication of Lizards HERRMANN, M/A*; ROMERO-DIAZ, C; CAMPOS, S/M; MITER, G/A; WILLIAMS, D/R; SOINI, H/A; NOVOTNY , M/V; HEWS, D/K; MARTINS , E/P; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ, USA; Department of Biology and Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington IN, USA; Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, IN, USA; Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, IN, USA; Institute for Pheromone Research and Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, IN, USA; Institute for Pheromone Research and Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, IN, USA; Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute IN, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ, USA morgan.herrmann@asu.edu

Odor signals are involved in feeding, territorial, social and reproductive behavior of animals. Most chemical scents are complex blends of multiple compounds, yet varying proportions of different chemical combinations may lead to different levels of signal response. We conducted a series of chemical playbacks, in a controlled environment, with lizards of the genus Sceloporus, to assess behavioral responses to two volatile heterocyclic compounds, identified from femoral pore secretions and a demonstrated role in communication in other taxa. These compounds were presented alone or in combination with each other and in different proportions. We found evidence supporting the hypothesis that varying either the number or the proportion of the compounds significantly alters individual responses to chemical scents. Interestingly, the relationship between the two compounds was interactive rather than purely additive. These results provide deeper insight into the effect of chemical signal content in communication and behavior.