Olfactory communication plays a major role in the social systems of most mammals, yet the complex functional nature of mammalian pheromones is not well understood. Pheromones are chemicals vented by an individual of a species which when encountered by another individual of the same species results in behavioral and/or physiological changes. Although major economic advantages have been realized through research on insect pheromonal systems, further understanding of the communication mechanisms are necessary to provide the basis for practical applications in mammals. Indeed Dr. Muller-Schwarze will use wild species that are considered as pests in North America as his experimental animals to examine the function of pheromone secretions in the complexity of their natural environment. Along with Dr. Webster, he will isolate and identify the major constituents of the "territorial" pheromone. Changes in the chemical compositions of these pheromones will be tracked by season and for individuals of different sexes and ages. Dr. Muller-Schwarze will analyze the behavior of these free-living mammals exposed to various mixtures of components. The goal is to elucidate how chemical signals modulate mammalian behavior and which chemicals are responsible for what response. These studies will not only contribute to a general functional understanding of mammalian pheromonal systems but the specific knowledge gained can be applied as a management tool with mammalian species considered as pests.
