RRC ID |
74661
|
Author |
Jiang NJ, Chang H, Weißflog J, Eberl F, Veit D, Weniger K, Hansson BS, Knaden M.
|
Title |
Ozone exposure disrupts insect sexual communication.
|
Journal |
Nat Commun
|
Abstract |
Insect sexual communication often relies upon sex pheromones. Most insect pheromones, however, contain carbon-carbon double bonds and potentially degrade by oxidation. Here, we show that frequently reported increased levels of Anthropocenic ozone can oxidize all described male-specific pheromones of Drosophila melanogaster, resulting in reduced amounts of pheromones such as cis-Vaccenyl Acetate and (Z)-7-Tricosene. At the same time female acceptance of ozone-exposed males is significantly delayed. Interestingly, groups of ozone-exposed males also exhibit significantly increased levels of male-male courtship behaviour. When repeating similar experiments with nine other drosophilid species, we observe pheromone degradation and/or disrupted sex recognition in eight of them. Our data suggest that Anthropocenic levels of ozone can extensively oxidize double bonds in a variety of insect pheromones, thereby leading to deviations in sexual recognition.
|
Volume |
14(1)
|
Pages |
1186
|
Published |
2023-3-14
|
DOI |
10.1038/s41467-023-36534-9
|
PII |
10.1038/s41467-023-36534-9
|
PMID |
36918554
|
PMC |
PMC10014992
|
MeSH |
Animals
Courtship
Drosophila melanogaster* / metabolism
Female
Male
Pheromones / metabolism
Sex Attractants*
Sexual Behavior, Animal
|
IF |
12.121
|
Resource |
Drosophila |
|