Abstract
Lions (Panthera leo) use chemical signaling to indicate health, reproductive status, and territorial ownership. To date, no study has reported on both scent and composition of marking fluid (MF) from P. leo. The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop a novel method for simultaneous chemical and scent identification of lion MF in its totality (urine + MF), 2) identify characteristic odorants responsible for the overall scent of MF as perceived by human panelists, and 3) compare the existing library of known odorous compounds characterized as eliciting behaviors in animals in order to understand potential functionality in lion behavior. Solid-phase microextraction and simultaneous chemical-sensory analyses with multidimensional gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry improved separating, isolating, and identifying mixed (MF, urine) compounds versus solvent-based extraction and chemical analyses. 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, 4-methylphenol, and 3-methylcyclopentanone were isolated and identified as the compounds responsible for the characteristic odor of lion MF. Twenty-eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from MF were identified, adding a new list of compounds previously unidentified in lion urine. New chemicals were identified in nine compound groups: ketones, aldehydes, amines, alcohols, aromatics, sulfur-containing compounds, phenyls, phenols, and volatile fatty acids. Twenty-three VOCs are known semiochemicals that are implicated in attraction, reproduction, and alarm-signaling behaviors in other species.
Highlights
Survival of great cats is contingent on their use of olfaction to identify prey, distinguish amongst conspecifics, indicate reproductive status, and maintain territory among many other roles[1,2,3,4,5]
The objectives of this study are to 1) develop a novel method for the simultaneous chemical and odor identification of lion marking fluid (MF) in its totality, 2) identify the characteristic odorants responsible for the overall scent of lion MF as perceived by human panelists, and 3) compare the results to the existing library of known odorous compounds characterized as eliciting behaviors in animals in order to understand their functionality in lion behavior
Four SPME fiber coatings were compared for volatile organic compound (VOC) extraction efficacy of characteristic MF odorants
Summary
Survival of great cats is contingent on their use of olfaction to identify prey, distinguish amongst conspecifics, indicate reproductive status, and maintain territory among many other roles[1,2,3,4,5]. Unlocking components of excretions that are used as ‘chemical messages’ could lead to reducing human-wildlife conflicts, increasing endangered populations, improving zoological enrichment approaches, and reducing anxiety in captive and wild cat populations. Understanding the roles these chemicals play in behavior could lead to the development of artificial marking sprays using these key semiochemicals that could be used to alter behavior. More research on the roles of individual scents and chemical compounds within markings is needed to gain an understanding of the influence each has on eliciting behaviors
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